GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern held the usually
sharp-shooting Rhodes College Lynx to just 22 second half points
and 22.8% shooting for the game to take the 63-46 SCAC victory
Saturday evening. With the win the Pirates remain in first place in
the West and are just one game shy of securing a berth in the
postseason.
Southwestern had a defensive stranglehold on the Lynx throughout
most of the first half, allowing just 7 points through the opening
13 minutes to go up 17-7. Rhodes got hot as the game headed into
halftime and closed the gap to two points, 26-24 as the halftime
horn sounded.
As the second half got underway the Pirates went back to work,
holding Rhodes scoreless through the opening five minutes and built
their lead to 11, 35-24. A pair of Lynx free throws by Nathan Ollie
stopped the run but Southwestern kicked it back in gear and held
Rhodes to just one additional point through 10 to play, building
the lead to 16 points, 46-30.
Rhodes was never able to pull closer than twelve points as SU
continued their stifling defense and rebounding domination. The
Pirates were +16 in rebound margin as the Lynx struggled from the
floor, making just 13 field goals in the game.
Senior Travis Barber led all scorers with 19 points while fellow
seniors Zach Bergstrom and A.C. Cox chipped in 12 and 11
respectively. Junior Nick Caputo pulled down 10 of the
Pirates’ 52 rebounds. Rhodes’ Ollie led for the Lynx
with 15 points.
SU shot only 37.5% from the floor and 18.5% from three point range
but were solid from the free throw line sinking 16 of their 19
attempts for 84.2%.
The Pirates remain at home for a match-up with East leading
Birmingham-Southern on Saturday beginning at 8:00 pm.