Feb. 4, 2010

Box Score

Complete Release in PDF Format

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team saw a 20-point, second-half lead evaporate almost as quickly as they built it against Saint Joseph's, but the Flyers quickly regrouped and staved off the late Puma rally for the 78-76 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Neil Carey Arena on Thursday (Feb. 4) night.

"Our ability to sustain an effort for 40 minutes is lacking in every game we've played with the exception of Southern Indiana," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "We have to try and sustain an energy level and focus level for 40 minutes.

"Hopefully (this win) gives our kids some confidence and the belief that we can beat good teams on a consistent basis," Trost continued. "We competed tonight, but now we just have to do it for 40 minutes."

Lewis sophomore guard Chris McClellan (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling) posted a game-high 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting, including three trifectas and a game-high five assists.

"I thought McClellan did some nice things and he made some big plays tonight," Trost said.

Junior guard Dennis Thomas, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) chipped in 15 points, followed by a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, including four blocks, from sophomore center Marty Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg). Freshman David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) came off the bench and scored 10 points for the Flyers.

With the victory, Lewis improves to 13-9 overall and 5-8 in conference play, while the Pumas fall to 13-8 on the season and 7-6 in GLVC action.

Andrew Helmer and Dayvon Sloan each scored 14 points for the Pumas, while Phillip Collins added 10 points.

The first half was all Flyers, as Lewis shot 50,0% (17-for-34) from the field on their way to a 43-26 advantage heading into the intermission.

Saint Joseph's responded in kind to start out the second stanza, as the Pumas went on a 28-9 run over the first 9:06 of the half to take a 54-52 lead. Sloan led the charge for Saint Joe's during that stretch with eight points, including a pair of treys.

The lead would change hands six more times over the next seven minutes, as the Pumas held a 71-70 lead following a lay-up from Austin Peebles (8 points).

The Flyers responded with a 6-0 run over the next 1:47, as McClellan (4 points) and Bryant (2 points) accounted for the tallies, giving Lewis a 76-71 lead with 1:18 remaining in the contest.

After McClellan had hit a pair of free throws at the 1:18 mark, Saint Joseph's Michael Horton (9 points) knocked down a three-pointer to bring the Pumas to within two points at 76-74 with 1:08 left.

On the ensuing possession, Sloan fouled Thomas, and the Milwaukee, Wis., knocked down both of his charity shots, to extend Lewis' lead to 78-74 with 1:02 left in the game.

Saint Joseph's answered with a lay-up underneath the bucket from Helmer to narrow the Flyers' margin to 78-76 with 50 ticks remaining on the clock.

The Flyers worked down the clock to 16 seconds, before Helmer blocked a Thomas shot, giving the Pumas a chance at the tie with time dwindling down.

The Flyers were up to the task defensively, as Bryant forced a Horton turnover with two seconds remaining in regulation to secure the win for Lewis.

"It's a tale of two halves, but it's a win," Trost said. "I thought we played well together and we came together in the end."

The Flyers are back in action Saturday (Feb. 6) night as they welcome UW-Parkside to Neil Carey Arena for a 7:45 p.m. tip off.

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##