Friday, December 6th, the Rhodes College Men's Basketball team took on Hendrix College in the first game of the SAA Non-Conference Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. The Lynx pulled away with an impressive 87-65 win.
RECAP: Rhodes College vs Hendrix College
Key Performances:
- Trevor Lombard was the leading scorer with 19 points (5-11 from three point range)
- Freshman, Murray Norman tallied 16 points (5-9 from three point range)
- Jack Dempsey had 9 rebounds
In the first half, between the Rhodes Lynx and the Hendrix Warriors, Rhodes set the tone early with Shawn Jones Jr. scoring the opening basket on a well-executed lob play. Hendrix responded by switching to a 3-2 zone defense, which initially threw the Lynx off their game. Rhodes hesitated on several open looks, unsure whether to shoot or pass. However, after some quick adjustments, Rhodes found their rhythm and started knocking down a barrage of threes, effectively dismantling the zone defense. Defensively, Rhodes was locked in with their man-to-man approach. Their intense pressure forced Hendrix into committing numerous turnovers and taking low-quality shots, giving the Lynx a clear edge on both ends of the court. By the time the first half ended, Rhodes had built a solid lead, heading into halftime with a 41-31 advantage. The Lynx's ability to adapt offensively and maintain defensive discipline played a huge role in securing their lead at the break.
The Rhodes College Lynx maintained control throughout the second half, never relinquishing their lead. Their defensive strategy was a key factor, as they constantly switched up their schemes, keeping Hendrix College off balance. The Warriors struggled to adjust, often settling for poor shot selections and committing turnovers under pressure from the Lynx. With five minutes left in the game, Hendrix made a push to cut into the deficit, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly crushed by Lombard. Lombard drilled three deep three-pointers in a row, completely deflating the Warriors and silencing their momentum. His sharpshooting sealed the game, leaving no doubt about the outcome. The Lynx's consistent defensive pressure and clutch shooting ensured their dominant performance carried through to the final buzzer to finish the game with an 87-65 win.
Team Statistics:
- The Lynx shot 40% from three point range and had 41 bench points
Looking Forward: Rhodes College vs Centre College
On Sunday, December 8th, the Lynx will take on the Centre College Colonels in the last game of the SAA Non-Conference Classic in Mallory Gymnasium.
Historical Match Up:
The Lynx are on a two game losing streak against Centre College with their last match up against them being a 63-72 loss at Centre. The Lynx will look to break this streak and come away with the win.
