Danville, Ky. - Rhodes men's basketball opened the Southern Athletic Association tournament against No. 1-seeded Centre College Sunday. The Lynx, who led 43-35 at halftime, fell 85-77 to the Colonels. The Lynx end their season with a 5-21 overall record.

Rhodes only missed five of their 22 field goals in the first half, shooting 77.3 percent in the field, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line going 8-of-12. The Lynx trailed 15-12 midway through the first half until eight straight points gave Rhodes a five-point advantage. A 9-1 run put the Lynx ahead 37-26 with three minutes left in the first half before leading by eight at the break. 

Centre opened the second half with six straight points to pull within two. Rhodes chipped away to lead 52-45 until a Colonel 8-2 run pulled Centre within one with 12:15 to play. Centre eventually went ahead by seven until Rhodes posted back-to-back three's from Koki Wiley and Nick De Feria 4:17 left. The Colonels would net 10 unanswered points to pull away for the eventual win. 

Three Lynx posted double-digits in the game, led by Jalen Essick (18), Wiley (16) and De Feria (10). Wiley also tallied six rebounds and went 6-of-10. Essick sank seven baskets on 11 field goal attempts.