MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Drew Miller's 30 point performance helped lead the Rhodes men's basketball program past the Panthers of Birmingham-Southern College on Sunday, 81-70.
 
The Lynx move up to 13-8 on the year and 6-4 Southern Athletic Association action while the Panthers fall to 12-8 and 6-4 in the league.
 
Miller opened the contest with a layup to give Rhodes the early 2-0 lead in the first 15 seconds. The Lynx widened the gap with a six point run, behind a Luke Collins lay-in and a Tate Sledge jumper, to go up 8-2 at the 15:09 mark. Rhodes saw its lead diminish down to one after a BSC run to the 11:16 mark brought the count to 10-9. The Lynx went to work to give themselves some cushion, and fueled by another six point run and a Shane Watson tip in, Rhodes established a 16-9 lead with 9:07 to play.
 
The Rhodes lead swelled to 12 after a Miller layup followed by an old fashioned three point play from Watson and a second Watson bucket made the count 25-15 at the 5:55 mark. The Lynx weathered the BSC storm to hold on to a six point lead to take into the half, at 32-26.
 
The Lynx were led in the first half by Miller, who netted 12 points. Watson added eight first half points to Rhodes' total, with Sledge adding six. Griffin Schamp posted 15 points in the opening period of play, with six points from Ross Welch.
 
The Lynx shot a first half field goal percentage of 48.0 percent while holding the Panthers to 38.9 percent shooting. Coach Mike DeGeorge's squad also cause 10 first half turnovers, which the capitalized on, turning them into 10 points.
 
Rhodes maintained its healthy lead in the second half of action as back to back Miller layups to open play, followed by a Ryan Van Hoeck dunk gave the Lynx a 38-26 lead with 17:49 to play. Rhodes withstood several BSC attacks with help from three three point shooting of Miller and Dunavant. At the 6:19 mark, a Dunavant three lifted the Lynx 66-54. Rhodes held tight to their double digit lead and posted a 81-70 victory over the Panthers.
 
Miller's 30 points lead all scorers and was a season high for the junior. Two other Lynx worked into double digit figures with Sledge and Watson posting 10 points apiece. The Lynx out-rebounded their opponents 28-20, and every Lynx with playing time contributed to the rebounding total.
 
The Panthers were led by Schamp who posted 22 points on the evening. Larry Thomas added 19 while Welch chipped in 13.
 
The Lynx shot 58.0 percent from the field in the contest and made all five of their three pointers in the second half of action. Rhodes held BCS to 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Rhodes will hit the road for its next four games. The Lynx will head to Berry College on Feb. 14 for a match up with the Vikings at 8 p.m.