LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. (December 4, 2021) - The Rhodes men's basketball team found themselves back in the win column following Saturday's 65-57 victory over the Covenant Scots. Rhodes improves to 4-3 on the year while Covenant moves to 4-2.

It was a tale of two halves for the Lynx. They struggled out of the gate in this one, shooting only 9-33 (27%) from the floor in the first half, including zero makes from three-point range. Thankfully, Covenant did not fair much better as the Rhodes defense limited the Scots to 31% shooting. Covenant scored the first nine points of the game on three triples to take an early lead. A Jayson Williams jumper at the 14-minute mark put the Lynx on the board. The Scots were able to extend the lead to as large as 17-4, but Rhodes was able to adjust at the 12-minute media timeout. David Fitzgerald was good on a jump shot, followed by two buckets (including one with a foul) from Jalen Essick to make the score 17-11. The two teams then traded blows for the remainder of the half, with an Essick jumper with under a minute left making the score 26-23 in favor of Covenant. 

Fitzgerald nailed a triple for the first points of the second half, setting the tone for the final twenty minutes. Makes from Essick, Mac James, and Williams made it a one-possession game at the first media timeout. Coming out of the break, a steal from Jefferosn Walker led to a fast-break three from Koki Wiley, giving Rhodes their first lead of the game at 36-35. That sparked a 10-0 run for Rhodes that included a Zavien Williams stea and layup, a jumper from Arness Georgetown II, and another three from Wiley. Covenant hung tough, and were able to claw their way back to 51-50 around the five-minute mark. Essick stepped up for the Lynx, knocking down back-to-back jumpers to maintain the lead. Zavien Williams added a huge three with under three to go to make it a 58-53 score. James and Wiley were able to ice the game late with free throws, giving the Lynx a big road win, 65-57.

Rhodes shot 75% from three in the second half, going 6-8 from deep. They also shot 59% from the field.

Essick led the Lynx with 17 points while adding five rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Mac James was the only other player in double digits, finishing with ten points. Eleven different Lynx scored a point in the game. 

Next up for the Lynx is another road game. On Tuesdaym they will head to Columbus, Mississippi to take on the MUW Owls. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm.