UT Tyler junior Demarcus Metcalf drives against a Rhodes College player during Friday night's game at the Herrington Patriot Center. UT Tyler won in overtime. (Karen Pollard | Correspondent)

Travis Dykman hit for 28 points, including the shot to force overtime, as UT Tyler rallied from 19 points down to defeat Rhodes College, 98-95, Friday in the basketball season opener for the Patriots at the Herrington Patriot Center.

In the women’s game, No. 22 Rhodes, of Memphis, Tenn., scored an 80-70 win over the Patriots.

Both teams are in action today as Alumni Weekend continues. UT Tyler plays host to Hendrix in a doubleheader. The women play at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.

 

Men

After trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, the Patriots mounted a furious comeback in the final minutes to take victory over the Lynx (1-2).

UT Tyler trailed 50-31 with 17:31 to play after Rhodes’ Geoff Livsey hit a pair of free throws, but the Patriots would fight back.

Dykman cut the lead to 64-60 with 7:55 remaining, but Rhodes pulled away once more, going up by 11 with 5:57 left in regulation.

With 3:55 to play, Demarcus Metcalf, who hit for 23 points, sliced the Lynx lead to just two with a dunk after driving down the middle of the lane, making the score 75-73.

The teams fought back and forth over the next three minutes, Rhodes took a four-point, 89-85 lead with just seven seconds to play.

After a Nathan Harbour layup to cut the Rhodes’ lead to 89-87, Dykman took the ball the full-length of the court, found room, and hit the step-back jumper to send the game to overtime.

In the extra time, both teams traded buckets until the final second, when Harbour made a tricky layup to give the Patriots the 97-95 lead, followed by a free throw, ending the game at 98-95.

Tyler Hysell added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Patriots, while Bryce Kemp and Joe Stephens had 13 points apiece.

Livsey led the Lynx with 19 points, while Luke Collins and Drew Miller had 15 points each. Matt Wagner chipped in 12.

 

Women

It was the first loss of the season for the Patriots.

Senior She’Cara Humphrey led UT Tyler with 26 points and seven rebounds.

After the Patriots (1-1) went up 18-14 early in the first on a Breann McMillan jumper, Rhodes (3-0) answered back, closing out the first half on a 31-21 run, taking a 45-39 lead at the half.

UT Tyler closed the gap to just five points early in the second half, but that would be as close as the Patriots could get to the Lynx.

Rhodes’ Lauren Avant was stellar on the night, finishing the game with 32 points on 11-14 shooting from the field.

For the Patriots, Brittany King added 14 points and seven rebounds, while senior Danai Woods finished with three assists and five rebounds.

Lauren Avant led the Lynx with 32 points.