McKendree Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The No. 23 Lewis University men's basketball team is gearing up for the postseason, as the Flyers (20-4, 12-4 GLVC) welcome McKendree (9-15, 4-12 GLVC) to Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon. Tip-off is set for 3 PM.
   Live stats, audio and video streaming of Saturday'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 entering the Division II ranks, Lewis owns an 4-1 advantage over the Bearcats in their all-time series.

LAST TIME WE MET - Playing without leading scorer Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield), No. 23 Lewis rallied from an eight-point second half deficit and gutted out an 85-78 GLVC road victory over McKendree on January 16, 2014.

LAST TIME OUT - Jackson led four Flyer players in double-figures with a game-high 26 points, as No. 23 Lewis earned the 74-66 win over UIS on Thursday (Feb. 20) 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.

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.

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.

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 28 of its last 34 contests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign for a winning percentage of .824. During that stretch, the Flyers have defeated five teams that were ranked in the NABC/Division II Men's Basketball Poll.

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

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN - Lewis is shooting 45.8% (33-for-72) from three-point range in its last four contests. Flyer reserves Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) and David Niggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) are shooting a combined 61.8% (21-for-34) from beyond the arc. Henshaw has hit 10 of his last 15, while Niggins has drained 11-of-19.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK - As of February 21st, Lewis is fifth in the country in both turnovers-per-game (9.5) and fewest turnovers (227). The Flyers have had 12 games this season with less than 10 turnovers.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK (PART DEUX) - Lewis joined seven 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).

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.

NATIONALLY RANKED - Lewis moved down four spots in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Feb. 18) ranking 23rd in the country.

PROUD PROGRAM - Lewis 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. 18).

COMEBACK KIDS - Lewis has trailed in the second half in nine of its 19 victories this season.

CLOSE CALLS - Lewis is 4-1 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.

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 February 8th. That's the most assists by a Flyer squad since they had 33 in 105-64 win over Lincoln Christian on January 9, 2006.

STREAKIN' - Lewis is currently riding a 15-game winning streak at Neil Carey Arena dating back to last season, which currently ties them for the fourth-longest in the country.

CAN'T WAIT FOR McK - Sophomore forward Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) is averaging 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and shooting 65.6% (21-for-32) from the field in three career games against McKendree.