MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College men's basketball team trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, but put together a tremendous comeback effort, giving themselves a chance for a win. However, the game moved to overtime and the East Texas Baptist Tigers were able to escape with a 119-116 victory on Saturday afternoon at Mallory Gymnasium.

The Lynx shot an abysmal 33% in the first half including 4-for-27 from three. They responded by going 20 of 41 in the second half including nine three pointers to crawl back into the game. The Tigers were hot in the first half, shooting 67%, and shot 58% for the game.

Both teams battled back and forth through most of the first half as Rhodes got to the free throw line to offset the hot shooting Tigers. However, a 13-0 run by ETBU extended a two point lead into a 52-37 lead with 2:02 to go. They would take a 56-43 advantage into the break.

Things did not get much better for Rhodes in the second half, as turnovers and cold shooting continued to be a burden as the Tigers held a 69-46 lead with 17:06 the play. 

Rhodes steadily began chipping away at the deficit, using turnovers from their press and finally heating up from the field. Rhodes got four straight three pointers from freshman Bryce Berry, senior Andrew Lowrie, senior Brennan Sullivan, and freshman Jake Nestlehutt to cut the deficit to 78-67 with 12:23 to play.

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The Lynx continued to inch closer as junior Ian Harrison provided some offense in the paint while junior Anesu Nyawata and freshman Kendrick Ashby got into the paint to get to the free throw line to make it a five point game.

Senior Tyler Gee got going while three pointers from Sullivan and Nestlehutt made it a two point game.

With 4:38 remaining, Nyawata completed the comeback with a pair of free throws to tie the game at 94. Moments later, following an ETBU turnover, Sullivan hit a mid range jumper to give Rhodes a 96-94 lead.

The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to go ahead 101-96, but a layup from senior J.J. Weir and another three from Nestlehutt tied it back up. 

After a basket from ETBU and a free throw from sophomore Daniel Darst, Rhodes was able to get a defensive stop as they got the ball back with 54 second remaining. Nyawata gave Rhodes a 104-103 lead with 37 seconds remaining on a beautiful mid range bucket.

However, a foul on the other end tied the game back up as the Tigers hit one of two at the free throw line to tie it at 104 with 10 seconds remaining. Rhodes could not convert on the other end and the game moved into overtime.

Rhodes took a four point lead behind buckets from Nestlehutt and Darst, but a 9-0 run put ETBU ahead 115-110 as key fouls and missed shots proved to be costly for the Lynx. Despite a great effort, they would eventually fall 119-116.

Darst led all scorers with 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting while adding four assists and two steals. Gee and Nywata each had 16 points with Gee pulling down eight boards. Nestlehutt and Sullivan scored 15 while Harrison had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

Weir had 10 assists and four steals while freshman Mitch Weatherford had five assists. Ashby picked up three steals and an incredible acrobatic block. 

ETBU was led by Jordan Quillan as he scored 39 on the day to go with 16 rebounds. Jordan Gosey added 13 and 13 while Dylan Augustine scored 21.

Rhodes moves to 1-1 on the year and will return home to Mallory Gymnasium on Wednesday as they will welcome in the Belhaven Blazers for a 5:30 PM tip off.