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Owensboro, Ky. - The Owensboro Sports Center has become somewhat of a second home for the Lewis University men's basketball team, as the Flyers won their fourth-straight contest on Kentucky Wesleyan's home court, earning the 67-64 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over the host Panthers on Saturday (Feb. 9) afternoon.
The Flyers have not lost in Owensboro since the 2007-08 campaign.
Lewis senior guard
David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) topped the Flyers with 14 points. Flyer sophomore point guard
Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) (Lyons, Ill./Morton) was huge in the second half, as he scored all 11 of his points in the final 20 minutes, including a career-high tying three trifectas. Sophomore forward
Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.
The Flyers were deadly from the free throw line, as they knocked down 92.9% (26-for-28) of their attempts.
Junior guard
Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist/Missouri State) was crucial down the stretch, as he knocked down 8-of-9 free throw attempts, including four straight in the final 51 seconds, to finish with 10 points on the afternoon. Over the past two contests, Valla is shooting 90.0% (9-for-10) from the charity stripe in the final minute.
With the win, Lewis improves to 14-7 overall and 8-5 in GLVC action, while the host Panthers drop to 15-6 on the campaign and 7-6 in conference play. This is the first time since the 2003-04 campaign that the Flyers have defeated three nationally ranked teams in the same season.
Kentucky Wesleyan junior guard Rico Ferguson posted a team-best 13 points for the Panthers, followed by 12 points (4 three-pointers) by senior forward Cornbread Walker. Junior center Dominique Dawson notched a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Panthers.
While the Flyers have been comfortable amid the unfriendly confines of the Sports Center, KWC did not make them feel welcome in the second half, as they built a 51-43 lead over Lewis with 9:09 remaining in the contest.
The Flyers responded with a 13-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 56-55 lead with 4:21 left in in the contest following a Jarosz three-pointer. Jarosz was the catalyst for Lewis during that stretch, as he scored eight points.
KWC claimed their final lead of the game with a Ferguson jumper at the 3:08 mark, giving the Panthers the 57-56 advantage.
Lewis countered with a 5-0 run, highlighted by Jarosz' third three-pointer of the half, helping the Flyers to the 61-57 lead with 2:08 left in the game.
The Panthers answered with a 5-2 run of their own with Walker knocking down a three-pointer with 38 ticks remaining, to narrow Lewis' lead to 63-62.
KWC fouled on Lewis' next possession, sending Valla to the line. The Tinley Park, Ill., native drained both of his attempts to extend the Flyers lead to 65-62 with 25 seconds left.
Both teams called consecutive time-outs before Panthers' guard Lucas Barker (6 points) missed the game-tying three-pointer with eight seconds left.
Lewis grabbed the rebound and knocked down both of his free throws to clinch the win for the Flyers.
"There is no easy game in this league," Lewis head men's basketball coach
Scott Trost said. "I'm proud of the way we fought back. We kept digging and we stuck together.
"It may not be pretty, but we found a way to win."
Lewis returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 14), as they welcome No. 11 Bellarmine to Neil Carey Arena for a 7:30 PM tip-off.