Jan. 22, 2004

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Lewis University is sitting pretty at the halfway point of the Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball race.

The 12th-ranked Flyers, who have triumphed in a variety of ways during their school-record winning streak, subdued Bellarmine in somewhat unusual fashion in Thursday night's 81-69 victory at Knights Hall.

Coupled with a 91-77 Saint Joseph's upset of second-place Indianapolis, Lewis' 15th successive victory gave the Flyers (16-1, 10-0) a three-game lead in the league race with 10 games to play.

Lewis shot unimpressively from the floor overall (31 of 70, 44.3 percent), from 3-point distance (4 of 14, 28.6 percent) and at the foul line (15 of 26, 57.7 percent).

But the Flyers - known for handling the basketball with tender loving care, and leading the GLVC in fewest turnovers per game - took their protective custody act to a different level this night, committing an incredibly low two turnovers.

Add 20 offensive rebounds, including five apiece from Sidney Holmes (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) and Monta McGhee (Chicago, Ill./Robeson), and a defensive effort that limited Bellarmine to 45.1 percent overall and 25 percent (4 of 16) from 3-point range, and you have a recipe for success.

Lewis, ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region, trailed 34-32 at halftime after making just 13 of 40 shots (32.5 percent) and watching the Knights (6-11, 3-7) knock down 12 of 20 (60 percent). An 11-point effort by Steve Turner (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods), who finished with 16, kept the Flyers from a bigger deficit.

With the game tied at 43 at the 14-minute mark, Lewis took command with an 11-0 run that gave the Flyers a 54-43 cushion with 10:26 remaining. McGhee's two baskets started the rush, which also included baskets by Demitrius Hunter (Silvis, Ill./United Township) and DeAndre Williams (Chicago, Ill./St. Francis de Sales) and Steve Turner (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods)'s 3-pointer.

The Flyers cooled after that, but Bellarmine didn't score again until Jason Johnson made two free throws that cut the Lewis lead to nine points with 8:41 to play. In fact, the Knights went almost nine minutes without a field goal.

After Austin Real (Aurora, Ill./Aurora West)'s conventional 3-point play boosted the Lewis lead back to double digits at 57-45, Bellarmine injected some suspense into the festivities. The Knights assembled a 9-2 run that brought them to within five, 59-54, with 5:50 left.

Just as quickly, though, Lewis regained control. Randy Wright (Thomasboro, Ill./Rantoul) hit a 3-pointer, Turner sank a jumper and Hunter netted two free throws, and the Flyers had a comfortable 66-54 advantage at 3:51.

Hunter led all scorers with 19 points and added four assists. The senior point guard needs just seven assists to become Lewis' career leader and is only 10 points shy of 1,000 career points.

Turner's 16 points came on 7-of-10 shooting, and Real tallied 13 points and five rebounds. McGhee gathered 16 rebounds, a personal career best and season high by a Flyer, and added 12 points.

Zach Miller and Bruce Johnson scored 17 points each, Victor Pierson scored 12 points and Adam Etienne had nine rebounds for Bellarmine.

The teams switched their shooting fortunes in the second half, as Lewis shot 60 percent (18 of 30) while Bellarmine slipped to 35.5 percent (11 of 31).

The Flyers begin the second half of the league schedule by renewing their heated rivalry with Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Owensboro.