MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's basketball team opened their 2014-2015 campaign against the No. 9 ranked Washington University in St. Louis Bears on Saturday, falling 85-71.
 
The Lynx start the season with a 0-1 record while the Bears improve to 1-0 to begin their year.
 
Rhodes, who was looking to avenge a 30-point season opening loss of a year ago, got off to a sluggish start, as the Bears opened the contest with a 21-10 run by the 11:04 mark. The determined Lynx, fought back edging Wash U by five at the 5:04 mark with a 18-2 run, fueled by five points from Geoff Livsey and Tate Sledge each.
 
The Lynx worked to hold onto their lead, but the Bears chipped away at the Rhodes advantage, tying the contest at 32-32 with 2:41 to play after a Matt Palucki free throw. The hot three-point shooting Wash U, reclaimed the lead at the 1:24 mark after a pair of back-to-back threes from Palucki and Lloyd Silverman made the count 38-32.
 
Drew Miller sunk a three of his own, climbing to within three with 1:08 to play in the half, but a Tom Garvin free throw in the waning seconds gave the Bears a 39-35 point advantage they would take into the half.
 
In the first half of action, the Bears fired an impressive 50 percent from the field, and converted 38.5 percent from beyond the ark. Rhodes was led in the half by Livsey who notched nine points, followed by eight from Sledge and seven from Miller. Head coach Mike DeGeorge's squad posted 44.1 percent shooting from the field, and pulled down 14 rebounds to their opponents 23.
 
The tight action ensued in the second half of play, as both teams traded baskets to open the half. Rhodes cut the lead to two, after a Ryan Van Hoeck layup made the count 43-41 at the 17:41 mark. Just two minutes later, the Lynx fought for the lead after Luke Collins wedged through traffic to lay in the bucket and grab the 46-45 lead.
 
Tyler Gee edged the Rhodes lead out to three after a layup at the 12:57 mark, giving Rhodes a 54-51 advantage. But the Lynx defense couldn't hold off the charging Bears, as Wash U. went on a 14-4 run, pushing ahead to 65-58 by the 7:54 mark.
 
Rhodes whittled down the lead to two at the 6:33 mark after a pair of Collins free throws, but ultimately couldn't overcome the Bears. Wash U. continued to build on its lead, and finished out the contest with a Mitch Styczynski free throw to post an 85-71 win.
 
Palucki led all scorers and the Bears with 20 points and 17 rebounds. David Fatoki posted 16 points, with Nick Burt adding 15.
 
Rhodes was led in offense by Livsey who finished with 15 points. Brennan Sullivan added 11 points on the evening while Collins chipped in 10. Miller, Sledge and Van Hoeck each added eight points to the Lynx total.
 
Rhodes will be back in action on Nov. 16 in the second game of the Rhodes College Tip-Off Classic against Fontbonne University at 3 p.m.