MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rhodes men's basketball ousted Rust College 80-70 on Sunday in the final game of the Thanksgiving Crowne Plaza Classic.
 
The Lynx even their record out at 3-3, while Rust College falls to 0-2.
 
Rhodes struggled to put points on the board in the first half and found themselves trailing the Bearcats from the get go.  After a 10-3 Rust run, the Lynx answered with a Drew Miller three and a Matt Wagner lay-in to claw back to within one at the 10:10 mark. Rhodes hung-in with Rust, but couldn't take the lead. The Lynx went into the half time trailing by five, with a score of 34-29.
 
Rhodes' first half leaders were Johnny Dunavant who led the way with six points. The Lynx netted five founts each in Matt Wagner, Patrick McGrail and Miller. A host of players scored in the first half for Rust, with Curtis Stuckey adding six points and Paul Anderson and Ethan Myers each tallying five.
 
Rhodes shot 42 percent from the field in the opening period, with 7-15 coming from beyond the three point arc. Rust put up a solid 50 percent from the field in the first half, with 22 points in the paint.
 
The Lynx, who struggled to grab the lead in the first half, gained their first advantage in the opening minutes of the second half with a pair of three pointers from Miller. A Rhodes' Ryan Van Hoeck's lay-in at the 17:19 mark gave the Lynx a 37-36 lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the contest. The Lynx went on a 10-1 run, gaining a nine point lead with 14:21 to play. The Lynx held on to that lead to finish out the contest 80-70.
 
The Bearcats were led by Paul Anderson, who had a contest high 18 points. Keahmere Gredic added 11 points, with Curtis Stuckey hitting double digits with 10 points.
 
Two Lynx' tallied 14 points apiece in Miller and McGail. Miller also had three rebounds, three steals and three assists in the Lynx win. McGail added three assists to his total as well. Johhny Dunavant threw in 12 points for the Lynx, also grabbing two rebounds and four assists. Tate Sledge pulled in double digit rebounds with 10, also adding five points.
 
Rhodes shot over 50 percent from the field in the contest, knocking down an impressive 54 percent from beyond the three point arc.
 
The Lynx will hit the road this Wednesday, Dec. 4 as they open up conference play at Conway, Ark. against Hendrix College at 8 p.m.