Memphis, Tennessee ~ Rhodes College lost tonight to the University of Dallas by a score of 65-57. Rhodes will open SCAC play this weekend as DePauw University and Centre College come to Mallory Gymnasium on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
Rhodes was sluggish in the first half and looked like it was reeling from the two games played this weekend. Although the Lynx shot 50% from the field in the first twenty minutes they did not display the same energy that have displayed through the early part of season. Rhodes got off to a good start scoring on their first possession as senior Reid Hamilton (Birmingham, AL) was able to get a basket in the paint off an assist from sophomore Kory Kilpatrick (Athens, GA). A basket by Larry Cunningham, JR. (St. Charles, MO) gave the Lynx a 4-0 lead after two minutes of play, but Dallas roared back with four unanswered points. After a three point play by Kilpatrick put the Lynx up five, the Lynx struggled for offense over the next few minutes allowing the Crusaders to tie the game and briefly take the lead. The rest of the half the game was close with neither team ever gaining a lead larger than three points. The Lynx went into the locker room with a slim one point lead at 28-27.
A Crusader three to start the second half put Dallas ahead by two, but a bucket from Hamilton off an assist by Kilpatrick knotted the score at 30. Over the next two minutes Dallas reeled off seven straight points until Kilpatrick knocked down a deep three to bring the Lynx with four. Dallas maintained a three point lead until the 11:30 mark when freshman Andrew Galow (Oswego, IL) nailed a three pointer to tie the score at 39. Over the next five minutes the teams fought hard with neither taking advantage of opportunities. It seemed as the Lynx might do so when Kilpatrick sank his third three pointer of the night to give Rhodes a 47-44 lead with just 6:30 to play. Four straight Dallas free throws gave the lead back to the visitors and Rhodes never regained the lead. With the Lynx down four with 1:32 remaining, Kilpatrick made one free throw and despite missing the second, he grabbed the offensive rebound and got the ball to Hamilton for a three point attempt that was off the mark. Dallas then closed the game on a 7-2 run to finish off the Lynx 65-57.
Rhodes was led in scoring by Kilpatrick's 15 points and Hamilton and Chris Eberle (Cincinnati, OH) each scored 12. The twelve points was a career high for Eberle. Kilpatrick led the Lynx in rebounding with 9, but the Lynx were out rebounded by the Crusaders 40-31. Andrew Galow dished out a career high 9 assists in the losing effort.
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