Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. — The Lewis University men's basketball team showed some obvious rust offensively against Wayne State following their 11-day layoff, but their defense was flawless, as the Flyers earned the 52-41 in-region win over the Warriors at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Dec. 31) afternoon.
 
It was the fewest points scored by a Flyer opponent since a 68-39 win over St. Francis (Ill.) on Nov. 28, 2009. Overall, Wayne State shot 28.1% (16-for-57) from the floor. As a team, Lewis shot 35.6% (16-for-45), including a 29.2% (7-for-24) shooting performance in the opening half.
 
“We struggled out there offensively, obviously, but we grinded it out and found a way to get a win against a very good, tough, hard-nosed, in-region opponent, ” Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said.
 
The victory extends Lewis' winning streak to four games and helps the Flyers improve to 8-2 on the campaign. It also marks the first time that Lewis has gone undefeated during the non-conference campaign since 2002-03. Wayne State falls to 8-3 on the season.
 
Lewis freshman forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) led all scorers with 14 points and added seven rebounds. Flyer senior center Marty Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) picked up a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Flyer guard David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) came off the bench and tied a season-high with 11 points, while fellow reserve Lonnie Lawrence (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) added nine points and eight rebounds – both season-highs – in the win. Lewis' bench outscored Wayne State, 22-1.
 
“We had a big performance from our bench today,” Trost said. “I thought David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) and Lonnie Lawrence (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) really played well. They were factors off the bench today and that's what we're going to need down the stretch.”
 
The Flyer defense was evident in the second half, as Wayne State held a 29-27 lead over Lewis with 17:20 left in the contest, following a three-pointer by Stacey Waters (6 points). Lewis then went on a 16-2 run, led by five points from Lawrence, over the next 11:50 to help secure the win.
 
Wayne State guard Cole Prophet topped the Warriors with 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Wayne State's leading scorer Ike Udanoh (16.3 ppg.) was held to six points on 2-for-13 shooting from the floor.
 
Lewis returns to GLVC action on Thursday (Jan. 5), as they battle Maryville for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in St. Louis.