MEMPHIS - The Rhodes College men's basketball team went into Friday's evening one game behind Centre, needing a win over the Colonels to move into a tie for first with a chance for a regular season title and the rights to host the 2017 SAA Championship.

Statement made.

Rhodes shot 54% from the field and connected on 17 three's as they took it to the Colonels, blowing by them 117-94 on Senior Night to move into a tie for first place with two games to go.

The Lynx forced 21 turnovers and dominated the boards 37-26. Rhodes had 36 points off turnovers and out scored the Centre bench 80-33 in front a raucous crowd on Friday evening at Mallory Gymnasium.

Centre was the aggressor early on in the first half, taking a 13-7 lead as they came out shooting lights out from the field. A mini 8-3 run by Rhodes made it 16-15 as the two teams began to exchange baskets back-and-forth before Centre took a 20-18 lead.

From there, Rhodes went on a massive 22-6 run as a mix of easy layups and 3-pointers got the Lynx rolling and the crowd into it. Junior Anesu Nyawata scored five points during the run while senior Tyler Gee added four points and senior Brennan Sullivan and freshman Nick de Feria each connected on a 3-pointer.

Rhodes continued to push as 3-pointers from sophomore Daniel Darst, freshman MItch Weatherford, and junior Price Dalton pushed the lead to as many as 17. 

As Centre cut the lead down, back-to-back 3-pointers from Gee pushed the lead back up to 17 with under a minute to go and gave Rhodes a 62-47 advantage at the end of the first half.

In the second half, it was all about maintaining the big lead and then trying to add to it. Rhodes did both of those things as they conitnued to shoot well from the field. Darst would hit two straight three's five minutes into the second half to give the Lynx a 22 point lead. Freshman Owen Galvin followed with a beautiful lay in and the Lynx were rolling at 81-57.

Centre pushed it back down to 15 with 10 minutes remaining, but another gorgeous lay in from Galvin and a free throw led to Mallory Gym coming unglued as a steal by freshman Kendrick Ashby and an athletic tomahawk dunk on the other end put Rhodes back ahead by 20.

From there, the Lynx cruised to the easy victory as the Lynx joined the Colonels at 9-3 overall in the SAA. The Lynx move to 12-10 overall.

A total of 14 Lynx were in the scoring column on Friday night. Gee led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, and a steal while Darst had 13 points and two steals. Sullivan, Nyawata, and junior Ian Harrison all had 10 points while Nyawata had six assists and Harrison had six rebounds.

Galvin scored nine while de Feria, Dalton, and freshman Bryce Berry all scored eight points. Weatherford finished with seven assists in the contest.

Centre was led by Jakob Spitzer with 23 points while Tucker Sine added 16.

Despite the emotional win, especially on Senior Night, the Lynx will have to refocus on Sunday as they welcome in arch-rival Sewanee for a key matchup at 3 PM.