ATLANTA, Ga. – The Rhodes men's basketball program dropped a tough loss Sunday against Oglethorpe University by a count of 81-74.
 
The Lynx fall to 14-9 on the year with a 7-5 conference record. The Stormy Petrel move to 19-4 overall and 9-3 in league play.
 
Luke Collins opened the half with a big three to take the early, 3-0 lead in the early second of the contest. The Petrels charged back with a pair of threes of their own, from Connor Smith to gain the 6-3 advantage. Rhodes found itself chasing Oglethorpe throughout the half, as every time the Lynx got close, the Petrels found a way to pull away. Geoff Livsey scored a bucket to pull within two points with six minutes to play, and the Petrels answered with a seven point run to extend their lead to 17-8 at the 13:55 mark.
 
Collins hit his second three of the day to bring the Lynx within five, at 27-22 with 7:17 to play. Again, Oglethorpe worked their lead back out to double digits after a Victor Rohlfs three pointer made the margin 32-22 at the 5:51 mark. Rhodes got some momentum going their way to end the half as they rode a seven point streak into locker room, pulling within four to 46-42 at the half.
 
Leaders at the half included Shane Watson, who netted 11 first half points, Livsey and Collins who each had seven points apiece. The Petrels leaders were Smith who had 14 points, and Alex Davis who added 10. The Lynx shot 52.0 percent in the first half, but couldn't touch the scorching 77.8 percent put up by the Petrels.
 
The second half of action seemed like déjà vu for the Lynx, as every time they got within striking distance, the Petrels lead swelled. Oglethorpe opened the half with a 13 point run, behind the hot shooting Smith, who knocked down back-to-back threes to make the count 59-46 with 15:29 to play. Rhodes remained calm, and fought to tear away at the deficit, and pulled within five as Collins sunk his third three of the game, making it 61-56 at the 12:05 mark.
 
Oglethorpe mounted another run to pull out to a double digit lead at 9:50 after a Tyler Courson layup made the Petrels lead 12 by a count of 68-56. After a Johnny Dunavant three, the Lynx clawed back within eight with 1:59 to play, with a score of 72-66. Dunavant sunk another three to bring Rhodes within five at 74-69 with 57 seconds to play. The Lynx' efforts weren't enough as the difference was too great to overcome, as the Lynx fell, 81-74.
 
Rhodes was led by Drew Miller who netted 19 points, while pulling down five rebounds and snagging three assists and three steals. Livsey  added 16 to the Lynx total, with six rebounds. Shane Watson chipped in 13, shooting five for 10 from the field, and also added seven rebounds. Collins finished with 10, shooting three for five from three point range.
 
The Petrels were led by Smith, who added 21 points. Smith shot 6-9 from beyond the three point arc. Tyler Courson added 15 with Davis reaching double digits with 14.
 
Rhodes shot 41.6 percent from the field on the day, with 38.4 percent from beyond the arc. Oglethorpe posted 58.5 percent shooting from the field, with nine made threes.
 
Rhodes will wrap up the regular season on the road next weekend as they face off against Sewanee on Feb. 21 followed by a trip to Danville, Ky. to take on the Colonels of Centre College.