Nov. 26, 2005

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE - Lewis turned in another fierce defensive performance in Saturday's non-conference game against Grand Valley State, but the visiting Lakers returned the favor and defeated the Flyers 59-56.

The Flyers (3-1) forced 19 Grand Valley turnovers while committing only 10 giveaways themselves. The Lakers, however, shot 50 percent (23-of-46) overall and 44 percent (7-of-16) from 3-point range while holding Lewis to 36 percent (19-of-53) overall and 25 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc.

The game was tied 26-26 at intermission, and neither team led by more than five points in the second half. There were five ties and 15 lead changes in the nip-and-tuck final 20 minutes.

That five-point margin, 53-48, was held by Grand Valley (3-1) with 5:55 remaining following an 8-0 run. Courtney James' 3-pointer erased the Flyers' 48-45 lead and was followed by Jason Jamerson's 3-pointer and Mike Hall's layup.

Behind a defensive effort that forced stray 3-point tries on three successive Grand Valley possessions, back came the Flyers. Kendall Patterson made three of four foul shots to make it a two-point game, then assisted on Dustin Warfield (Peoria, Ill./Central)'s 3-pointer that gave Lewis a 54-53 edge at the 4:07 mark.

After Kyle Carhart's baseline 3-pointer barely beat the shot clock to put Grand Valley back on top, the Flyers' Stephan Bolt took a feed from Brandon Dagans and scored inside for a 56-all deadlock with 2:42 left.

Although Dan Redder's layup with 1:26 to play proved to be the winning points, Grand Valley left the door open by making just one of two free throws with :12 left. Lewis missed a 3-point try, retained possession after a scramble knocked the ball out of bounds, but misfired on another trey attempt as time expired.

Hall scored seven of his game-high 19 points and Callistus Eziukwu blocked four shots as Grand Valley raced to an 11-0 lead barely five minutes into the contest.

It was 19-10 Lakers with 7:44 left when the Flyer offense went to work. With Eziukwu, who blocked 114 shots a year ago, out of the game with a pair of early fouls, Lewis - primarily Dagans - attacked the basket successfully.

Dagans sparked a 16-2 Flyer surge with two free throws, a steal and layup, and an assist on Pat Monaghan (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd)'s 3-pointer. He made another driving layup to trim the GVSU lead to 21-19 before John Loeffelholz (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead)'s jumper pulled Lewis even.

Ryan Sharp (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central)'s layup, a Dagans free throw and two Monaghan freebies completed the run and gave the Flyers their largest lead, 26-21, with 2:47 left before the break. Grand Valley salvaged a halftime tie when Hall made two free throws and Jamerson sank a 3-pointer.

Monaghan, who was 3-of-4 from 3-point distance, led the Flyers with 15 points. Dagans was 7-of-8 at the foul line and finished with 11 points and team highs of five rebounds and four assists.

For Grand Valley, Jamerson (4-of-7 from 3-point distance) joined Hall in double figures with 14 points and added game highs of nine rebounds and five assists. Eziukwu had six blocks, Dan Redder had seven rebounds and James tallied five assists.

Lewis opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play at home Thursday against GLVC East Division preseason favorite Saint Joseph's. Game time is 7:30 p.m.