MEMPHIS - Junior Anesu Nyawata scored 16 points in the second half including four 3-pointers while senior Tyler Gee added 12 points as the Rhodes College men's basketball team erased a deficit as large as 15 points in a huge conference win over Berry, 89-78, at Mallory Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

The second half really swung the game for Rhodes, as they erased a poor 35% shooting in the first half with 64% from the field in the second half to go with 10 3-pointers, shooting 56% from downtown. After shooting 61% in the first half, Berry only shot 41% from the field in the second half.

Berry was terrific throughout the first half, leading by double digits for most of the period thanks to 18 points from Caleb Johnson. The Lynx closed a 13 point deficit down to eight at half as freshmen Jake Nestlehutt and Mitch Weatherford combined for five points to make it 45-37 at the break.

In the second half, the energy from Rhodes began to rise as Nyawata heated up from the field, especially from deep, while Nestlehutt caught fire as well, hitting a pair of threes. The Lynx went on a run of four straight 3-pointers from Nyawata, Nestlehutt, freshman Owen Galvin, and again from Nyawata suddenly gave Rhodes a 56-51 lead in the midst of a 14-0 run.

Berry did not go down quietly, even retaking the lead with 8:31 to play, but Gee would score seven of the next 10 points as Rhodes moved back ahead at 73-69 with 5:11 to play.

Nyawata, Weatherford, and Nestlehutt hit three straight 3-pointers as it sparked an 11-3 run to move ahead by as many as 12 points. The Lynx closed the games with free throws from Nyawata and Gee and Rhodes pulled away for an 89-78 win.

Nyawata finished with 21 points on 5 of 8 shooting, with all five makes coming from deep, and six rebounds. Gee added 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting while Nestlehutt had nine points and a pair of steals. Freshman Daniel Darst pulled down seven rebounds to go with three assists while senior J.J. Weir had five assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Johnson led Berry with 27 points while Blake Jones had 13 points and Tanner Spalding had 12 points.

Rhodes moves to 9-10 overall and 6-3 in the SAA. They remain tied for second in the SAA Standings with Birmingham-Southern as both teams are one game back of Centre. 

The Lynx will take on the Panthers on the road on Friday night with the battle for second. Rhodes defeated BSC earlier in the year at home in conference play by the score of 142-100. Tip off is set for 8 PM.