Dec. 2, 2004

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE - A tremendous effort by the Lewis University men's basketball team at Neil Carey Arena Thursday night almost earned the Flyers an upset victory over Southern Indiana, the nation's fourth-ranked NCAA Division II team and preseason favorite to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Lewis outscored USI 59-56 from the field, but the Screaming Eagles used a 22-of-25 performance at the foul line, including Randy Holbrook's 12-of-12 effort, to edge the Flyers 78-74.

First-year head coach Kyle Green's Flyers (2-3, 0-3 GLVC) accomplished several objectives against the Eagles (4-1, 3-0 GLVC) that kept them in the game all evening.

Lewis held Chris Thompson, who came in averaging Southern Indiana team highs of 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds, to 6 points and 8 rebounds. Cris Brunson, USI's career leader in 3-point baskets, was just 1-of-3 from beyond the arc and finished with 9 points. And, the Flyers limited Stacy Pearson to 4 points, well below his 11.5 average.

Lewis also outrebounded the taller Eagles 39-38, including a 16-11 advantage on the offensive glass, committed only 11 turnovers and was a season-best 9-of-25 (.360) in 3-point shooting on the way to a season-high 74 points.

Lewis led 17-11 with 13:11 to play, but USI put together a 12-0 run to take its own 6-point lead, 23-17, at 9:36. Holbrook scored 8 of the 12 points including 6 at the stripe.

USI would lead by 10 points twice in the opening period, but Lewis didn't fade either time. The Flyers used an Anthony Scala 3-point and two DeAndre Williams free throws to slice a 34-24 deficit to 34-29. Trailing 39-29 moments later, Lewis closed the half with two Dustin Warfield free throws and a John Loeffelholz short jumper to narrow the gap to 39-33 at the break.

Steve Turner (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods)'s 2 free throws at the 10:05 mark gave Lewis its first lead of the second half, 55-54. After USI edged ahead on Geoff Van Winkle's pair of free throws, the Flyers got baskets from Randy Wright and Brian Hyser, followed by Turner's fast-break layup after a Hyser steal, and led 61-56 with 7:48 left.

After a 9-1 run gave USI a 65-62 lead, the Flyers charged back again with 6 consecutive free throws to grab a 68-67 edge. Brunson's only 3-pointer of the night put the Eagles on top to stay and ignited an 8-0 spurt that gave USI a 75-68 lead with 0:55 to play.

Wright nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute, but Van Winkle made two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to secure the win for USI.

Wright, who tied his career high of five 3-pointers, led the Flyers with 19 points and added 5 assists. Turner scored 12 points and Loeffelholz registered 11 points and a season-high 9 rebounds (7 offensive), tying him for game-high honors on the boards.

Anthony Scala had 9 points and tied his career best of 5 assists, and Williams had 8 points and 6 assists. Warfield and Pat Monaghan each collected 5 rebounds off the bench.

Holbrook led all scorers with 26 points and tied Loeffelholz with 9 rebounds. Van Winkle and John Hoover tallied 10 points apiece, Van Winkle grabbed 8 rebounds and Pearson and Carl Richburg had 6 and 5 assists, respectively.

The Flyers host Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday at 3 p.m.