Southern Indiana Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The No. 19 Lewis University men's basketball team meets its first nationally-ranked opponent of the season, as the Flyers (13-2, 5-2 GLVC) welcome No. 9 Southern Indiana (14-1, 6-1 GLVC) on Thursday (Jan. 23) evening. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM at Neil Carey Arena.
   Live stats, audio and video streaming of Thursday's contest can be found at www.LewisFlyers.com and can also be heard on WJOL (1340 AM) with Mark Vasko providing the play-by-play action for the Lewis Sports Network. The game can also be found on WLRA (88.1 FM).

ALL TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Screaming Eagles hold a 42-22 advantage over the Flyers in their all-time series.

LAST TIME WE MET - Despite rallying from a 12-point, second half deficit, Lewis was unable to sustain that momentum as No. 18 Southern Indiana claimed the 88-80 overtime victory over the Flyers in the GLVC Quarterfinals in Evansville, Ind., on March 8, 2013.

LAST TIME OUT - Junior guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) led five Flyer players in double-figures with 20 points, but Lewis dropped a 94-88 decision to GLVC East Division-leading UW-Parkside on Monday night.

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 eight double-doubles this season. That is the most double-doubles by a Flyer squad since they had nine during the 2009-10 campaign.

TRIPLE THREAT - Jackson 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 94.4% (17-for-18) 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 January 11th.

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.

NATIONALLY RANKED - Lewis moved up four spots in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Jan. 21) ranking 19th in the country.

RANKED SCHMANKED - Lewis has defeated at least one nationally-ranked team in each of the last three seasons.

PROUD PROGRAM - Lewis University is one of six Division II schools in the country that has both their men's and women's basketball programs ranked in the Top 25. The Flyer women's team checked in at No. 23 in the USA TODAY Sports Division II Coaches Poll released on Tuesday (Jan. 21).

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. Coincidentally, Southern Indiana also won a game this season with just 36 shots in a 73-64 win over Indianapolis on January 18th.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY (PART DEUX) - Lewis shot a GLVC-best, 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.

COMEBACK KIDS - Lewis has trailed in the second half in seven of its 13 victories this season.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK - As of January 19th, Lewis leads the country in fewest turnovers (120) and turnovers-per-game (8.6). The Flyers have had nine games this season with less than 10 turnovers.

SMOKIN' HOT - Lewis has won 21 of its last 25 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, including Southern Indiana.

SMOKIN' HOT (PART DEUX) - Lewis has shot over 50.0% in each of their last four games and have reached that mark in 10 out of their 15 contests this season.

MINUTE MEN - Jackson (33.9 mpg.) and junior forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) (33.7 mpg.) are ranked third and fourth in the GLVC in minutes played.

CRASHING THE BOARDS - Lewis has grabbed at least eight rebounds in his last five contests, including a career-high 16 caroms against McKendree on January 16th. Those 16 rebounds are the most by a Flyer player since Stephan Bolt collected 16 against Saint Joseph's in 2008.

SCREAMING AGAINST THE EAGLES - In five career contests against USI, Jackson is averaging 19.4 points-per-game against the Screaming Eagles.

WE OWE YOU ONE - Lewis has not defeated Southern Indiana at home in their last six tries dating back to a 65-59 Flyer win on February 21, 2004. The last two contests at Neil Carey Arena have been decided by a total of three points, both USI victories.