MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's basketball team's was plagued by offensive struggles and couldn't overcome Millsaps College on Friday night, as they fell 54-51 in Southern Athletic Association action.
 
Rhodes fell to 12-8 on the year and 5-4 in the league while the Majors advance to 5-13, and 2-7 in the SAA.
 
The Lynx were in for a dog-fight with the Majors, as Millsaps Ronnie Frebis scored on the opening possession to go ahead 2-0 at the 19:46 mark. Rhodes scored on its next possession after a Geoff Livsey bucket knotted the score at 2-2, but the Lynx struggled to produce for the next five minutes as the Majors posted an 8-0 run. Rhodes worked its way back in, pulling with two after a Johnny Dunavant three at the 9:24 mark made the count 16-14.
 
The low scoring affair continued, as only 10 points were scored over the final ten minutes. The Lynx closed the half with a Drew Miller lay-in to make the halftime score 20-18.
 
The Lynx spread out its offensive production, getting four points from Miller, three from Dunavant and two from Shane Watson, Livsey, Luke Collins, Matt Wagner and Ryan Van Hoeck. The Majors got seven points from Marc Robertson and six from Frebis.
 
The Lynx shot 33.3 percent from the field in the first half, with only one made three. The Majors posted a hot 62.5 percent shooting total, also knocking down one three. Rhodes forced 11 first half turnovers, and turned those into eight points.
 
Watson opened the second half with a layup to bring the Lynx within two, at 22-20 in the opening six seconds of the half. Rhodes continued to chase the Majors, as they stretched their lead out to six after a Mac McElveen Jumper at the 15:05 mark made the score 34-28. Rhodes whittled the deficit down to one at the 9:52 mark after a Patrick McGrail three made the count 38-37. But the Lynx saw the Majors lead swell again, after a Frebis lay-in brought the count to 49-41 with 6:06 to play.
 
Rhodes wasn't ready to throw in the towel as the Lynx grabbed a one point lead after a pair of Livsey free trows made the score 50-49 with 3 minutes left in the contest. The Lynx saw their slim lead slip away after a pair of Millsaps scores from Ryan Berger at the 2:41 mark made the count 52-50. A Miller free throw made brought the Lynx within one with 22 seconds to play, but it wasn't enough as a last second three attempt rattled out for Rhodes, and fell 54-51.
 
The Lynx had a balanced scoring attack, led by senior Watson, who posted 10 points. Miller netted nine points for the Lynx, while McGrail, Dunnavant and Livsey each finished with six points. The Majors were led by Robertson and Frebis, who scored 14 points apiece. Berger added 11 points to Millsaps total.
 
Rhodes finished with 42.2 percent shooting from the field, with five for 23 shooting from beyond the arc. Millsaps shot 58.5 percent from the field with only two made threes. The Lynx got a lift from their bench, with 20 points coming from Rhodes reserves.
 
Rhodes will wrap up its home schedule this Sunday, Feb. 9 as they host Birmingham-Southern College at 3 p.m.