MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – The Rhodes men's basketball team posted a strong win in a physical battle on Sunday over Berry College, 76-56.
 
The Lynx improve to 10-3 on the season and keep an unblemished 3-0 record in the Southern Athletic Association while the Vikings fall to 4-9 on the year and 0-3 in league play.
 
Rhodes took control of the contest from the get go, with Ryan Van Hoeck scoring the first two buckets of the game to take an early 4-0 lead at the 18:56 mark. The Lynx were able to maintain their distance, and a Drew Miller three gave Rhodes a 12-9 edge with 13:13 to play in the half.
 
A trey from Tate Sledge, and a pair of free throws from the junior gave Rhodes its largest lead to that point at nine, with 6:54 to play at 29-20. Sledge continued with the hot hand, netting the final four points of the half for the Lynx, as Rhodes headed into the break with a 38-33 lead.
 
At the half, Rhodes was led by Sledge who tallied 13 points on 5-8 shooting. Miller added seven points with Tyler Gee notching five points. The Vikings were led by Owen Jacobs who had 10 points at the break, with Samuel Powell adding four.  Rhodes shot 44.8 percent from the field in the half, with Berry firing a 41.7 percentage.
 
The Lynx went to work in the second half, stretching their lead to double digits after a Keyshawn Butts three with 14:26 to play gave Rhodes a 51-39 edge. Head Coach Mike DeGeorge's squad continued the offensive production, and posted a 68-51 lead after a Luke Collins layup and trey combo with 4:19 to play.
 
After a pair of Collins free throws and a Geoff Livsey lay-in at the 2:41 mark, the Lynx lead swelled to 21 at 74-53. Rhodes continued to prove too much for the Vikings to handle, as the Lynx brought home the 76-56 win.
 
Collins led the Lynx scoring with 16 points, also dishing out seven assists in the contest. Sledge notched a career-high 15 points, with Livsey and Van Hoeck each chipping in 10 points. Rhodes shot 49.0 percent on the day, with 38 points in the paint and 33 points coming from the bench.
 
The Vikings were led by Jacobs who finished with 15 points, with Nick Marder adding 12 to the Berry totals. The Vikings shot 31.6 percent from the field, and were held to just 12.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
 
Rhodes will be back in action on Jan. 17 when the Lynx head to Conway, Ark to take on Hendrix College.