MEMPHIS, TN – Freshman Noah Chatman dropped a career-high 30 points, but the Wilmington College men's basketball team fell to host Rhodes, 124-113, in the opening round of the Rhodes Tip-Off Tournament Saturday in Mallory Gymnasium.

Chatman (Goodlottsville, TN/Beech), in his return to his home state, was 14-of-16 from the field and 2-for-4 from the line to amass his career-high total. He added four rebounds, one block and one assist in the defeat.

The teams battled back and forth in the first half with neither team about to gain much traction, and the game was tied at the break.

Rhodes went on the game's first major run early in the second half, outscoring the Fightin' Quakers 17-4 to open up a game-high 10-point advantage. However, Wilmington worked its way back into the contest, and following a three-pointer by junior Nathan Scott (Sardinia, OH/Eastern) with 10 minutes remaining.

However, WC couldn't get the key defensive stop to allow them to get over the hump as it pulled to within one possession five times down the stretch.

Scott finished with a career-high 16 points as a total of five Wilmington players reached double figures. Sophomore Andrew Russell (Columbus, OH/Central Crossing) added 15 points, a team-high six rebounds and a career-best four assists

Junior Christian Jones (Hamilton, OH/Hamilton) and sophomore Kevin Lewis (Cincinnati, OH/Clark Montessori) both added 10 points.

Junior D.J. Iles (Fayetteville, OH/Fayetteville Perry) dished out a career-high 14 assists.

Wilmington (0-2) plays Huntingdon 2 p.m. Sunday in the consolation game of the Tip-Off Tournament.