Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - Senior Stephan Bolt scored 25 points and freshman Dennis Thomas, Jr. added a career-best 18, but Lewis came up short in tight battle against Wisconsin-Parkside, falling 79-74 Saturday afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division matchup.

The Flyers (13-4, 6-3) trailed by as many 12 points in the first half before rallying all the way back to take a one-point lead right before the half, but Wisconsin-Parkside scored the final basket of the half to hold a 39-38 edge at the break.

The second half was nip and tuck, as teams exchanged the lead nine times over the final 20 minutes.

The Flyers' last lead of the game came with 2:03 to play in the game when junior Jason Genova scored a layup. Genova's bucket put Lewis up by one, but the Rangers went back in front on their next possession when Kyle Clark, who led his team with 25 points, hit a pair of free throws.

Lewis misfired on its next trip down the floor and turned the ball over the possession following that. Meanwhile, Kyle put the hosts up by three with a layup following the Lewis turnover.

Another missed opportunity by the Flyers gave the Rangers the ball back with 20 seconds to play, and Lewis was forced to foul. Dave Keane hit both freebies, and the Rangers extended their lead to five points, the largest lead by either team in the second half.

Genova hit a long trey to cut Parkside's lead to two with seven seconds left, but Keane again made good on a pair of free throws to ice the win for the Rangers.

Bolt shot 11-for-17 from the floor and pulled down nine rebounds. Thomas, Jr. was 5-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-3 beyond the arc, and 6-for-8 at the line. He also added four steals. Genova scored 12 points and five rebounds. Junior Brandon Dagans contributed six points, and freshman Lonnie Lawrence had five.

Lewis 51.8 percent for the game, compared to 45 percent by the Rangers. But Wisconsin-Parkside made nine treys to Lewis' four.

The two teams rematch at Lewis on Feb. 12. Lewis plays next at Northern Kentucky on Jan. 31.