McKendree Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team makes its way to Lebanon, Ill., for the third game of their five-game road trip as the No. 23 Flyers (11-1, 3-1 GLVC) meet McKendree (6-5, 0-3 GLVC) on Thursday (Jan. 16) evening. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM at the Melvin Price Convocation Center.
   Live stats and video streaming - provided by McKendree - of Thursday's contest can be found at www.LewisFlyers.com.

ALL TIME SERIES - Since entering the Division II ranks, Lewis owns an 3-1 advantage over the Bearcats in their all-time series.

LAST TIME WE MET - Lewis shot 58.6% (17-for-29) from the field in the final 20 minutes and outscored McKendree, 46-22, in the final stanza on their way to the 76-56 win on February 16, 2013.

LAST TIME OUT - Junior guard Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the second half - including the go-ahead jumper with six seconds left - to lift the No. 17 Flyers to the 82-80 win over UMSL on Saturday (Jan. 11).

CHARITY STRIPE - Lewis shot 93.5% (29-for-31) from the free throw line against Quincy on January 5, 2014. That is their best shooting performance since they hit all six of their attempts against Illinois-Springfield on December 6, 2004.

CLOSE CALLS - Lewis is 3-0 in games decided by five points or less this season. Last season, the Flyers were 4-4 in games decided by five points or less.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE - Lewis has recorded seven double-doubles this season - all of which have come in the last eight games. That is the most double-doubles by a Flyer squad since they had nine during the 2009-10 campaign.

TRIPLE THREAT - Lewis junior guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) led the Flyers in points (21), rebounds (9) and assists (4) against Quincy on January 5th. That is the second time this season and the fifth time in his career that he has accomplished that feat.

ICE IN HIS VEINS - Lewis senior guard Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) is shooting 92.9% (13-for-14) from the free throw line with less than two minutes remaining. He missed his lone free throw on purpose with one second left in the Flyers' 82-80 win over UMSL on Saturday.

EXTRA BASKETBALL - Lewis has played in two overtime games this season which is the most since the 2011-12 campaign. The last time the Flyers had three games with bonus basketball came during the 2007-08 campaign when they had four OT contests.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY - Lewis took a conference-low 36 shots against Northern Michigan (Nov. 24) and still came away with the 78-68 win. The Flyers shot 63.9% (23-for-36) from the field and 71.1% (27-for-38) from the free throw line.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY (PART DEUX) - Lewis shot 67.4% (29-for-43) from the field in their win over Malone on Dec. 21st. That is the best outing by a Flyer squad since they converted 69.4% (34-for-49) of their attempts in an 84-65 win over Illinois-Springfield on December 6, 2004. It is also the best shooting performance by any team in the GLVC this season.

COMEBACK KIDS - Lewis has trailed in the second half in six of its 11 victories this season.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK - As of January 13th, Lewis is second in the country in both fewest turnovers (107) and turnovers-per-game (8.9). The Flyers have had seven games this season with less than 10 turnovers.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK (PART DEUX) - Lewis committed a season-low four turnovers in wins over Truman State (Jan. 3) and UMSL (Jan. 11) - both serving as conference lows in the GLVC this season.

NATIONALLY RANKED - Lewis dropped six spots in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Jan. 13) ranking 23rd in the country. Last week's ranking of 17th was the highest for the Flyers since they concluded the 2003-04 campaign in 17th.

SMOKIN' HOT - Lewis has won 19 of its last 22 contests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign. During that stretch, the Flyers have defeated three teams that were ranked in the NABC/Division II Men's Basketball Poll.

ROAD WARRIOR - Junior forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) is averaging a team-best 17.8 points and 9.7 rebounds-per-game away from Neil Carey Arena this season.

ROAD TRIP - Lewis' current five-game road trip is its longest since the beginning of the 2010-11 campaign.

MINUTE MEN - Jackson (34.3 mpg.) and Lewis (33.7 mpg.) are ranked third and fifth in the GLVC in minutes played.

FOR CONTINUITY SAKE - Lewis, along with No. 2 Bellarmine and William Jewell are the only teams in the GLVC to have the same starting five in ther line-up for every game this season.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR - Jarosz is averaging a team-best 18 points-per-game and shooting 54.5% (24-for-44) from the field. since Jan. 1.