Photo Credit: Scott Butler, BSC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Rhodes College men's basketball team used a 18-3 run in the second half to turn a four point lead to a 19 point advantage as they pulled away for a 122-98 victory over Birmingham-Southern to take sole possession of second place in the Southern Athletic Association Standings on Friday evening.

Rhodes shot 49% from the field and a blistering 58% from behind the arc, hitting a school-record and season-high 23 three's. Rhodes also finished 23 of 28 from the charity stripe and forced 22 BSC turnovers.

The Lynx held the Panthers to 57% shooting in the game and only 43% in the second half. BSC only shot 28% from deep and was a miserable 19 of 36 from the line. The Rhodes bench outscored BSC 62-28.

Rhodes jumped out to a 15-13 lead beford four consecutive 3-pointers from seniors Brennan Sullivan and Andrew Lowrie and freshman Bryce Berry put the Lynx ahead 27-13 in the first five minutes.

The Lynx maintained a double digit lead for most of the first half as they connected on 11 3-pointers. However, with Rhodes leading by 13, the Panthers went on a 10-0 run to close the half to make it a 61-58 game at the break. Lowrie connected on four 3's for 12 points in the first half.

In the second half, BSC looked as though they were primed for a run to turn the game around and get their big crowd into it. However, it was Rhodes who silenced the crowd as they turned a 66-62 lead into a 90-69 advantage as they connected on seven straight 3-pointers in a span of six minutes. 

Freshman Nick de Feria hit a pair to 3's to get it rolling followed by Lowrie, freshmen Jake Nestlehutt and Mitch Weatherford, Sullivan, and junior Anesu Nyawata all connected from deep, without any misses during the stretch, to completely take control of the game.

Rhodes would go on to make 12 from deep in the second half. After the way the first half ended, the Lynx did not let it as they maintained their 20 point lead throughout the final 10 minutes and would go on to get a key road victory and remain one game back of Centre for first.

Sullivan led the way with 18 points including four 3-pointers and a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Lowrie added 15 on 5 of 6 shooting from deep while Berry scored 14 to go with a pair of steals. De Feria and senior Tyler Gee each scored 12 with Gee pulling down six boards while Nyawata scored 10. Senior J.J. Weir finished with five assists while sophomore Daniel Darst had three to go with two steals.

Matty Rudak scored 20 to go with nine boards while Ian Thom had 16 points, five steals, five rebounds, and four assists to lead BSC. 

Rhodes moves to 10-10 overall and 7-3 in the SAA. They go back to work on Sunday as they look to move their winning streak to four against Millsaps. Tipoff in Jackson is scheduled for 3 PM.