Jan. 24, 2004

Box Score

OWENSBORO, Ky. - Lewis University's Monta McGhee (Chicago, Ill./Robeson) scored a career-high 30 points and collected 11 rebounds, but Kentucky Wesleyan's Dontae Truitt and Eric Freeman combined to score 53 points to lift the Panthers to an 85-74 victory over the 12th-ranked Flyers Saturday at the Owensboro Sportscenter.

The loss snapped Lewis' school-record winning streaks of 15 games overall and 10 Great Lakes Valley Conference contests. However, the Flyers (16-2, 10-1) still hold a two-game GLVC lead over Indianapolis and Southern Indiana.

McGhee, who boosted his team-leading scoring average to 18.3 points per game, was 12 of 19 from the field overall, 2 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 6 at the foul line. He scored 18 points in the second half.

Truitt netted 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting, while Freeman came off the bench to score 24 on a 10-of-15 effort that included three treys. Truitt scored 18 points and Freeman added 15 in a second half that saw Kentucky Wesleyan (10-5, 7-4) outscore Lewis 57-48.

Lewis shot just 37 percent in the first half, including a dismal 1 of 8 from 3-point distance, but trailed just 28-26 at halftime.

Kentucky Wesleyan took control early in the second half. After Austin Real (Aurora, Ill./Aurora West)'s short jumper made it 28-all, the Panthers embarked on a 30-6 run that gave them their largest lead, 58-34, with 10:57 to play.

McGhee and Randy Wright (Thomasboro, Ill./Rantoul) scored five points apiece in a 12-2 Lewis flurry that put the Flyers within striking distance, 60-46, at the 7:17 mark. But that was as close as Lewis would get until the final seconds.

The first half featured six lead changes. After the Panthers jumped to a 4-0 lead on a pair of Truitt baskets, Sidney Holmes (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) scored six points in a 10-2 Flyer run that gave the visitors a 10-6 lead with 12:42 left.

Lewis earned the largest margin of the first half, 20-15 with 7:03 remaining, after McGhee scored six straight points. Haven Mosley's 3-pointer moments later ignited a 13-6 KWC spurt that gave the Panthers their two-point halftime edge.

Sidney Holmes (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) tallied 10 points and seven rebounds and Wright scored 10 points for Lewis, which outscored Kentucky Wesleyan 68-65 from the field but suffered a 20-6 deficit at the foul line.

KWC's Craig Schoen was 10 of 10 at the stripe and finished with 18 points and five assists. Truitt and Freeman led the Panther rebounding effort with seven apiece, and La-Troy Farrow had eight assists and six rebounds.

The Flyers begin a three-game homestand Thursday against Missouri-St. Louis at 7:30 p.m.