Missouri S&T Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The No. 19 Lewis University men's basketball team makes its final trip through the GLVC West Division this weekend, as the Flyers (18-3, 10-3 GLVC) head to Rolla, Mo., to square off with Missouri S&T (9-12, 4-9 GLVC) on Thursday (Feb. 13) night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM at the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
   Live stats, audio and video streaming - provided by Missouri S&T - of Thursday's contest can be found at www.LewisFlyers.com.

ALL TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 7-0 advantage over the Miners in their all-time series.

LAST TIME WE MET - Lewis outscored Missouri S&T, 62-38, over the final 29 minutes, as the visiting Flyers earned the 70-55 win over the host Miners on January 5, 2013. Lewis sophomore guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) posted a game-high 23 points in the victory.

LAST TIME OUT - Lewis shot 62.7% from the field, knocked down a season-high 13 three-pointers and posted a season-high in points scored in the 94-73 GLVC victory over William Jewell at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon.

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.

GETTING TO THE LINE - Lewis is 9-0 over the past two seasons when Jackson gets to the free throw line at least 10 times.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE - Lewis has recorded 10 double-doubles this season. That is the most double-doubles by a Flyer squad since they had 18 during the 2007-08 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.

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.

SMOKIN' HOT - Lewis has won 26 of its last 31 contests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign for a winning percentage of .839. During that stretch, the Flyers have defeated five teams that were ranked in the NABC/Division II Men's Basketball Poll.

MODEL OF EFFICIENCY - Lewis took a conference-low 36 shots against Northern Michigan (Nov. 24) and added a 38-shot performance against Bellarmine (Jan. 25) and came away with victories in both games. The Flyers went to the free throw line a combined 80 times and converted 72.5% (58-for-80) of their attempts in the wins.

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.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK - As of February 10th, Lewis is second in the country in fewest turnovers (197) and is fifth overall in turnovers-per-game (9.4). The Flyers have had 11 games this season with less than 10 turnovers.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK (PART DEUX) - Lewis joined five other teams in Division II this season with two or fewer turnovers in a game this season as they turned the ball over a mere two times against Southern Indiana (Jan. 23).

NATIONALLY RANKED - Lewis moved up three spots in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Feb. 11) ranking 19th in the country.

PROUD PROGRAM - Lewis University is one of seven 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. 15 in the USA TODAY Sports Division II Coaches Poll released on Tuesday (Feb. 11).

COMEBACK KIDS - Lewis has trailed in the second half in nine of its 18 victories this season.

CLOSE CALLS - Lewis is 4-0 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.

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

ICE IN HIS VEINS - Lewis senior guard Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) is shooting 85.3% (29-for-34) from the free throw line with less than two minutes remaining this season.

DROPPING DIMES - Lewis, led by a career-high 10 helpers from Valla, dished out a season-high 28 assists in their win over William Jewell on Saturday (Feb. 8). That's the most assists by a Flyer squad since they had 33 in 105-64 win over Lincoln Christian on January 9, 2006.

QUICK OUT OF THE GATES - With a win against Missouri S&T on Thursday, Lewis is off to its best season since the 2003-04 squad was 19-3 in their first 22 contests.

PUTTIN' IN WORK - Lewis and sophomore center Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) are shooting a combined 72.7% (32-for-44) from the field in the Flyers' last three games.

TRAVELING MEN - A win against Missouri S&T would give the Flyers nine road victories, which would be the most by a Lewis squad since they had 10 in the 1985-86 campaign.