Jan. 4, 2011

Box Score

Men's Basketball: Northern Kentucky 65, Lewis 48 in PDF Format

Romeoville, Ill. - For 26 minutes, Tuesday night's Northern Kentucky/Lewis men's basketball showdown had all the makings of a classic, as the game was tied at 39 with 14 minutes remaining.

The Norse, however, had other ideas, as NKU closed out the contest on a 26-9 run and held Lewis to a 22.2% (6-for-27) shooting performance in the final stanza on their way to the 65-48 Great Lakes Valley Conference win over the Flyers at Neil Carey Arena.

"We couldn't score and I thought our effort was lackluster tonight, and I don't know why," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "I wish I had answers, but we have to play with more energy and sustain the passion."

Lewis sophomore guard David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) led the Flyers with 13 points, while senior guard Dennis Thomas, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) added 12 points and a game-high six rebounds. Both players knocked down three trifectas on the evening.

With the win, Northern Kentucky improves to 9-3 overall and 2-2 in GLVC action, while the Flyers fall to 8-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

NKU was led offensively by Tennessee transfer Josh Tabb, as the senior guard posted 18 points, six assists and five rebounds. His backcourt mate Malcolm Eleby scored 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win.

However, it was juniors Bobby Shannon and Jon Van Hoose that provided the spark for the Norse during NKU's 26-9 run. Following a Thomas three-pointer at the 15:16 mark, Shannon (9 points) and Van Hoose (6 points, two 3-pointers) combined for 15 of NKU's 26 points.

NKU held a 40-26 advantage over the Flyers on the glass and received some support from their bench, as the Norse reserves outscored Lewis, 26-10. The Flyers, who entered Tuesday's contest shooting 49.3% from the field, shot a season-low 36.5% (22-for-51) against the Norse.

Lewis returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 6) as the Flyers welcome in-state rival, UIS, to Neil Carey Arena for a 7:45 p.m. (CST) tip-off.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to approximately 6,000 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares ethically grounded, globally aware, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.

##LEWIS##