LONGVIEW, Texas – Rhodes men's basketball fell in a close overtime battle on the road to LeTourneau University on Saturday 74-71.
 
Rhodes lands at 1-3 on the young season while the Yellow Jackets even up their record at 1-1.
 
The Lynx, who got behind early, fought back to within one at the 10:36 mark after a Tate Sledge bucket. The Yellow Jackets continued to keep a slim lead, heading into the half time with a 29-21 advantage.
 
Rhodes was 9-29 for 31 percent in the first half while LeTourneau was 12-27 for 44 percent. Each team made two free throws in the opening half. Luke Collins led Rhodes with five points and Chad Williams was the leader for the Yellow Jackets with eight.
 
Rhodes started the second half with a 10-4 run and continued to close the gap. Geoff Livsey pulled the Lynx within one, 37-36, when he sank a three-pointer with 10:28 to go. Rhodes continued to fight when Livsey tied the score at the 7:06 mark with a made free throw to tie the game at 44-44. The Lynx charged back in the final minute, down 57-53, to tie the game up with a Livsey lay-in and a pair of Tate Sledge free throws. The 57-57 count at the 10 second mark would hold up and sent the contest into overtime.
 
The Yellow Jackets opened up the overtime period with a Josh Thornton layup to give LeTourneau the 59-57 lead.  Rhodes tied the contest another three times in the extra period, but could muster enoughof a comeback to overturn the Jackets. Rhodes went on a three point run to end the game, but it wasn't enough as the Lynx fell just short 74-71.
 
LeTourneau's efforts were led by Ladaria Brown who had 19 points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists. Josh Thornton added 15 points, four rebounds and one steal, with Chad Williams netting 14 Yellow Jackets points.
 
Geoff Livsey led the Lynx in scoring for third straight game, scoring 18 total points. The junior also pulled in eight rebounds and two assists. Johnny Dunavant also found his way into the double-digits, sinking 11 points, pulling down six rebounds and two steal. Drew Miller and Tate Sledge added 10 points in the outing, with Miller grabbing three rebounds and one assist with Sledge adding two rebounds.
 
Rhodes will open its home season on Nov. 30 as they host the Crowne Plaza Thanksgiving Classic. The Lynx will face off against Schreiner University at 4 p.m.