Feb. 28, 2010

Box Score

Men's Basketball: No. 22 Drury 82, Lewis 63 (GLVC Quarterfinals) in PDF Format

Springfield, Mo. - The Lewis University men's basketball team did not have much time to celebrate their momentous comeback against Indianapolis yesterday, as the Flyers had to turn around and take on a well-rested No. 22 Drury squad in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday (Feb. 28) afternoon.

The nine days off proved beneficial for the host Panthers, as Drury claimed the 82-63 win over the Flyers at Weiser Gymnasium.

With the win, Drury (23-5) advances to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Semifinals against Bellarmine. Lewis ends the 2009-10 campaign with a record of 17-12.

Drury sophomore guard Dennon Mitchell came off the bench to score a game-high 24 points, while junior forward Chris Parks posted a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers. Chase Elliott scored 14 points, while GLVC Freshman of the Year Alex Hall knocked down four three-pointers to finish with 12 points.

"We just ran out of gas," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "It was a tough game against a very good team. I thought our guys competed and did some really good things today. These kids can be proud of what they've accomplished this season."

Lewis junior guard Donald Rowe (Kansas City, Kan./Wyandotte/Independence C.C.) topped the Flyers with 13 points, while sophomores Chris McClellan (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling) and Matt Toth (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) each added 12 points in the loss.

Drury was in control for much of the game and built a 55-43 lead over Lewis with 11:37 remaining in the second half. The Flyers, however, did not want their season to end at that point.

Lewis sophomore center Marty Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) led a final surge with five points in a 12-2 run over the next 4:06 to narrow Drury's lead to 57-55 with 7:31 left in the game.

The Flyers, however, could not sustain that momentum, as Drury, led by nine points from Parks, went on a 16-2 run over the next 4:13 to secure the win.

Drury dominated the glass against the Flyers, as they grabbed 39 boards, 15 of the offensive variety, to Lewis' 25 caroms. The Flyers, who entered the game shooting a school-record, 41.3% from three-point range, managed only to convert 23.5% (4-for-17) of their attempts on Sunday.

A Catholic university sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The 9th largest private, not-for-profit university in Illinois is being honored for the sixth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

##LEWIS##