MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's basketball opened the 2014 conference season with a statement win over Berry College 96-77.
 
The win advances the Lynx to 9-4 on the year with a 2-0 start in conference. The Vikings fall to 3-9 on their season and 0-2 in league play.
 
After a handful of ties and back and forth action to kick off the contest the Lynx grabbed their first lead at the 14:21 mark after Geoff Livsey sunk a deep trey ball to give Rhodes the 11-9 advantage. At 13:54 the Vikings knotted it up again at 11-11, but Rhodes had an answer in the form of another three, this time from the hands of Michael Gallagher to make it 14-11 Rhodes with just less than 13 minutes to play.
 
Rhodes took control from that point on, hitting another Gallagher three to put the Lynx up by seven at the 10:58 mark, 20-13. Berry pulled back within one with 6:41 to play after a pair of Lee McCloud free throws, but a pair of free throws from Tate Sledge and  Drew Miller in addition to two field goals from each, gave the Lynx a 10 point cushion with 5:09 to play, 36-26. Rhodes closed the first half with an 8-5 run to make the count 47-36 at the break.
 
At the half, the Lynx were led by Gallagher who put up 11 points in the first half. Miller added 10 points while Livsey and Sledge each notched seven. Mac Whalen netted 12 points for the Vikings in the first period of play, with Hunter Smoak contributing 10.
 
Rhodes held Berry to 40.0 percent from the field and just 33.3 percent from three point range. The Lynx put up an impressive 57.1 shooting in the first half, converting 6-11 three point attempts.
 
The second half was all Rhodes, as the Lynx went straight to work. Coach Mike DeGeorge's squad worked to stretch out their lead to its largest margin of the game at the 13:31 mark when the Lynx led by 22 after a Shane Watson lay in to make the 65-43. Rhodes continued their dominance going on a 9-0 run over a two minute span to make the count 79-58 with 6:08 to play fueled by a Sledge bucket and a three from Gallagher. The Lynx held on for the win, closing out the contest 96-77.
 
The Vikings shot 38.2 percent from the field in the contest with 30.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Rhodes held up their impressive percentages of the first half and finished with 52.5 percent shooting from the field and an astounding 50.0 percent from three point range. Rhodes out-rebounded its opponent by a count of 40-32 and outscored the Vikings in the paint 36-26. The Lynx bench was clutch in the win, outscoring the Berry bench by a tally of 52-1.
 
Berry was led in scoring by Smoak who put up a game high 28 points. Whalen added 22 with McCloud and Owne Jacobs each adding 11 points.
 
Livsey led all Rhodes scorers with 19 points. He also pulled in five rebounds and two assists in the outing. Miller and Gallagher each posted a 16 point night with Miller adding six assists and four rebounds. Gallagher pulled in four rebounds. Sledge got into double digit scoring figures with his 11 points and also grabbed three steals and two assists.
 
 
 
The Lynx will be back in action on Sunday Jan. 12 as they host Oglethorpe University at 3 p.m.