Ohio Wesleyan University was crowned champion on Saturday, November 26th, as they defeated your Rhodes Lynx 74 to 65 in the championship game of the 2011 Rhodes College Thanksgiving Classic - sponsored by Crowne Plaza Downtown.  Rhodes used a 24-point turnaround to grab a ten point lead with under ten minutes to play in the second half, put foul trouble and untimely turnovers left the Lynx just short of victory.  A tie game with under two minutes remaining saw the Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan use a 9 - 0 run to close out the game and take home the tournament championship.

The Lynx came out slow and found themselves behind by as many as fourteen points early in the first half.  Rhodes defense and Senior Kory Kilpatrick were keeping the Lynx above water.  With five minutes remaining in the half, the Lynx woke up and fought their way back into the game.  At halftime what was once a fourteen point deficit turned into four, 33 - 29.  Kilpatrick and Junior Johnny Dunavant both chipped in nine points through one half.

Rhodes came out with the same passion and energy in the second half to surge ahead of the Bishops.  Layups and open three-point field goals by the Lynx pushed them ahead with under ten minutes to play.   However, with 8:43 remaining, both Kory Kilpatrick and Junior Andrew Galow had picked up their fourth fouls and were forced to sit on the bench.  The Lynx hung onto a two point lead until both were able to get back into the game with under five minutes to go.

Untimely turnovers late was the story for the Lynx from that point forward.  All knotted at 65, with under two minutes to play, the Lynx were unable to score again and watched the Bishops finish the game on a 9 - 0 run.  Ohio Wesleyan celebrated their championship as Senior Tim Brady led them with 22 points on 7 of 15 shooting.

The Lynx were led by Sophomore Johnny Dunavant with 19 points on 7 for 11 shooting.  Andrew Galow added 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, while Junior Theo Hartwell chipped in a solid 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Rhodes drops to 3 - 2 on the season as they head into the first conference games with the year this weekend.  The University of the South will be here on Friday (8pm) and Centre College on Sunday (2pm).