MEMPHIS - Rhodes College men's basketball fell short on Saturday evening to MacMurray College as the Highlanders shot over 50% from the field including clutch late buckets to down the Lynx at the Rhodes College Christmas Tournament.

Rhodes shot well themselves, going 26-for-56 (46.4%) from the field and 6-for-15 (40%) from behind the arch. However, Rhodes suffered at the free throw line, going 13-for-21 (61.9%) including 7-for-13 (53.8%) in the second half. Rhodes also had 18 turnovers on the night, though they were able to force 17. The Lynx were also outrebounded, 32-30, but did pull in 12 offensive boards.

As both teams exchanged baskets throughout the first half, they would find themselves tied at 17. An 11-4 run by the Lynx would push them out to 28-21 lead, thanks to key baskets off the bench from junior Daniel Galvin.

However, MacMurray used the last five minutes to go on an 11-3 run to close the half and take a 32-31 lead into the break.

Through the first six minutes of the second half, Rhodes held a 43-41 lead, but the Highlanders would respond with an 11-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, at the time, of 52-43. 

Rhodes immediately responded with a 7-2 run to get the game back down to four thanks to buckets from juniors Keyshawn Butts and Tyler Gee.

Throughout the next 10 minutes, Rhodes would push the game to one possession, but MacMurrary would have an answer on the other end each time. With under six remaining, Rhodes had pushed it to a two points game, but the Highlanders would respond with back-to-back three pointers to push their lead back out to eight.

Freshman Daniel Darst scored the next five points to get it back to three, but again, the three pointer would be a dagger as that combined with dominance in the paint sparked a late 9-0 run to seal the game for MacMurray.

Butts was impressive, going for 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, three assists, and three steals. Junior Brennan Sullivan added 15 points and two steals while Gee had 11 points and a team-leading 13 boards. Galvin was a spark off the bench with 13 points, four boards, and three assists. Junior JJ Weir had seven assists and three steals in the contest.

For MacMurrary, Brent Long led the team with 26 points and seven rebounds while Deavis Johnson added 18 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Mike Cameron also had an impressive game with six points, six assists, and eight steals.

Rhodes moves to 4-3 on the season and will play in the third place game tomorrow afternoon against Aurora University. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. from Mallory Gymnasium.