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.