MOUNT BERRY, Ga. (February 4, 2022) - Rhodes hung tough early on, but by the time the final buzzer sounded, the Lynx had fallen to the Berry Vikings by a score fo 73-58. The loss moves Rhodes to 9-11 (4-6 SAA) while Berry maintains its stranglehold on first place in the conference standings with an overall record of 16-2 (7-1 SAA).

Rhodes started the game strong, forcing two early turnovers that they converted into layups. Zavien Williams added a three pointer to give the Lynx a 9-5 lead at the first media timeout. After Berry tied things up moments later, Jalen Essick scored the next four points for Rhodes to maintain a slim advantage. Berry broke open the game around the nine-minute mark with a layup, a four-point play, and another layup to make the score 21-14. Unrelenting, the Lynx pulled within one on a Seth Aeschliman jumper, followed by an Essick free throw to tie things up at 24. Berry, the top shooting team in the SAA, then connected on back-to-back threes. Zavien Williams took it upon himself to bring the Lynx back, scoring four straight to keep the game tight. Essick nailed a jumper on Rhodes' last possession of the half, but Michael Johnson connected on another three for Berry  before the buzzer to give them a 37-32 lead heading into the break. 

Rhodes shot an impressive 52% from the floor in the first half, but were outdone by the Vikings mark of 58%. Berry was also 5-12 from three (41%) while Rhodes struggled at 1-6 (16%).

The two teams traded buckets to start the second half, followed by Essick cashing in from three and adding a free throw to make it a three-point game at the 17-minute mark. Rhodes then took advantage of an ice-cold Berry team, turning a Koki Wiley layup, a Jefferson Walker jumper, and an Essick three into a 45-43 lead with fourteen minutes to go. At that point, Berry had not made a shot from the floor in more than five game minutes. Unfortunately, the Vikings found their stroke once more, knocking down two threes and adding a layup to retake the lead 51-45. Aeschliman stalled their run with a bucket in the paint, but it was a short-lived moment of joy for the Lynx. From 11:30-6:30 remaining, Berry stepped up their defense and did not allow Rhodes to score, while adding 16 straight points to their total. A Jeremiah Cook three stopped the bleeding, but it was too little, too late as Berry would hold on for the 73-58 win. 

Essick led the Lynx with 23 points. It was the fourth game in a row that the junior led the team in scoring. Zavien Williams added twelve, but he was the only other Lynx to hit double-digits. Michael Johnson was the top scorer for Berry with 15 points. 

Rhdoes will have a chance to get a game back on Sunday when they travel to Oglethorpe for their final road matchup of the season. Tipoff against the Petrels is scheduled for 3:00 EST/2:00 CST.