CLINTON, Miss. – Rhodes men's basketball snuck out another close win on Saturday over Mississippi College, 54-53.
 
Coach Mike DeGeorge's team improves to 5-3 on the season while the Choctaws fall to 3-3 on the year.
 
After Rhodes' Luke Collins opened the game with a layup, the Choctaws went on a 9-2 run to challenge the Lynx. Rhodes mustered an answer at the 8:44 mark with a Patrick McGrail lay-in and a Michael Gallagher three pointer to tie the contest at 10-10. The Lynx continued to have to chase down Mississippi after a pair of buckets from Emmanuel Ezejiofo put Rhodes down 14-12.
 
The Lynx ensued with the back and forth banter until a McGrail three at 2:30 gave Rhodes the 23-20 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish for the reminder of the half. Following an old-fashioned three point play from McGrail, and a pair of free throws from Tate Sledge, The Lynx took the 28-21 lead into the break.
 
McGrail led all scorers at the half with 11 points, followed by Shane Watson who added six points. Rhodes shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, with an impressive 57 percent from beyond the arc. Ezejiofo led the charge for the Choctaws with seven first half points. Rhodes held Mississippi to 36 percent from the field and only 17 percent from the three point line.
 
In the second half, the Lynx saw their lead slip away as the Choctaws went on a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to 32-30. Rhodes' Geoff Livsey answered, earning his first points of the contest when he drew the foul and put away the and-one free throw with 15:03 to play. The Lynx continued to fight off the Choctaw charge, aided by layups from Matt Wagner, Drew Miller and Ryan Van Hoeck. McGail added to the Lynx padding, knocking down a deep three to make the count 43-34 at the 12:23 mark.
 
Rhodes posted their largest lead of 49-37, with a pair of McGrail free throws at the 7:34 mark. The Choctaws found some fuel left in the tank as they want on a 13-2 run, propelled by a host of free throws and a Ezejiofo dunk to pull within one, 51-50 at the 3:28 mark. Mississippi's Jay Case knocked down a jumper with 1:31 left to play to tie things up at 53-53. A Miller free throw would be the final point scored, and the Lynx held on to the one point difference for the 54-53 win.

Ezejiofo scored 14 points to be the Choctaws offensive leader, while Lakin Ford added 12 points. Mississippi ended the night shooting 36 percent from the field, but only 10 percent from beyond the three point line.
 
McGrail led all scorers, posting a season high 16 points, while Miller and Watson ended the contest with nine each. Rhodes shot 39 percent from the field for the contest, with 33 percent from beyond the arc. The bench tallied up 35 points for the Lynx, propelling Rhodes to the win.
 
Rhodes will return to their home court for their next contest as they face off against LaGrange College on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.