MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rhodes used a big second half to overpower LaGrange College on Monday, 89-66.
 
The Lynx improve their record to 6-3, while the Panthers fall to 4-4 on the season.
 
Rhodes got off to a sluggish start, falling behind 4-0 to start the contest, but quickly went to work and turned the deficit into a 7-4 lead by the 16:33 mark with a pair of Geoff Livsey layups and a Ryan Van Hoeck lay-in. The back and forth battle ensued when Rhodes gave up its lead after a Patrick Dugger bucket and a Mark Wagner three pointer at the 13:35 mark to make the count 11-9. However after a Shane Watson free throw, the Lynx regained a lead of 12-11 that they wouldn't let slip away again.
 
Rhodes went on a 9-0 run over a five minute stretch with the help of an old fashioned three point play from Michael Gallagher and a host of Lynx free throws to widen their lead to 20-11 with 7:57 left in the first half. Rhodes held off the charging Panthers and closed the half with a Johnny Dunavant three and a quick steal turned points from Miller to make the half time tally 35-26.
 
The Lynx halftime leaders included Miller who netted eight first half points, followed by five points each from Livsey, Dunavant and Wagner. Rhodes shot 45.8 percent from the field in the first half of action, with only two threes. The Lynx defense held the Panthers to 37.0 percent shooting from the field. Patrick Dugger led the LaGrange campaign with eight points, followed by six points from Jerod Howard.
 
Rhodes opened the second half with a strong 12-2 run, kick started by a three pointer from Livsey in the opening minute. The Lynx continued to build on their lead utilizing the foul line to widen the gap. Rhodes shot 21-30 from the charity stripe in the second half. The Lynx halted a Panther surge at the 7:55 mark with an 8-3 run propelled by trips to the line. Rhodes reached their largest lead in the waning seconds of the contest, when a Tyler Gee lay-in made the count 89-66, a score that would hold true to the end.
 
LaGrange's leaders were Denzel Robinson, who finished with a game high 25 points.  Patrick Dugger posted 14 points for the Panthers. Rhodes held their opponent to 25.6 percent shooting from the field, and a mere 20.0 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Livsey paved the way for the Lynx, with 17 total points. The Austin, Texas native was one rebound away from a double-double with nine total rebounds, and came away with two assists. Wagner stepped up and into double digits, earning 13 points to go with five rebounds. Miller was right behind Wagner, adding 12 to the Lynx total to go with five rebounds, five steals and five assists. The Lynx shot an impressive 50.0 percent from the field and 41.7 from three point land. Rhodes dominated their larger opponents, getting 40 points in the paint to LaGrange's 30.
 
The Lynx will enjoy a break before returning home to play host to the Rhodes Christmas Classic, where the Lynx will bring in Austin College, John Carroll and Howard Payne. The Lynx will fave off against Austin College on Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. to kick off the classic.