MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Hendrix College men's basketball team lost to Rust College 82-80 at the Rhodes Year-End Classic Wednesday afternoon.
The Warriors (1-11) led 45-36 at halftime and started the second period by outscoring the Bearcats (5-9) 23-11 to take a 21-point lead with 12:33 to play. Rust ended the game on a 35-12 run, taking advantage of eight Hendrix turnovers. LaDarius Watts won the game for Rust on a basket with seven seconds left.
Hendrix committed 20 turnovers, compared to 8 for Rust. The Bearcats scored 21 points off the Warriors' miscues.
Hendrix shot 48.2 percent from the field (27-of-56), 12-of-22 from three-point range and went 14-of-21 at the free throw line. Rust shot 44.3 percent (31-of-70) overall, 5-of-16 from outside and 15-of-21 at the stripe. The Warriors had a 45-32 rebound advantage.
Hendrix Notes- The 12 three-pointers made tied the season-best for the Warriors.
- Freshman point guard
Preston Smith had season-highs with 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for his first career double-double. Smith also netted four three-pointers in the game.
- Junior guard
Travis Garrett added 16 points, knocking down four outside shots as well.
- Forward
John Ogle scored 11 points.
- Senior guard
Drew Nikolovski came up with seven points, five rebound and four assists.
- Junior center
Gearen Littlefield had six points, six rebounds and tied a career-high with four assists.
- Junior guard
Aaron Steele came off the bench to score seven points.
Rust Notes- Ben Shannon led five Bearcats in double-digit scoring with 15 points. to go with four assists.
- Curtis Stuckey scored 14 with four helpers.
- Ryan Wilkins, Allen Potts and O'Darius Lowe each netted 10 points.
- Watts scored nine points and had four steals.
- Jimmy Henderson added six points and seven boards.
Up NextHendrix will host Champion Christian College in a junior varsity game Saturday at 4 p.m.
