UW-Parkside Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team has its first opportunity to avenge one of its four losses this season, as the No. 18 Flyers (21-4, 13-4 GLVC) welcome No. 24 UW-Parkside (21-5, 14-3 GLVC) to Neil Carey Arena on Thursday (Feb. 27) for 'Senior Night'. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM.  The Flyers will recognize senior guard Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) prior to the contest.
   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) with Jesse Hardacre and Dave Hansen on the call.

ALL TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 36-25 advantage over UW-Parkside in their all-time series.   

LAST TIME WE MET - UW-Parkside, led by 32 points and six three-pointers by senior guard Colt Grandstaff, drained 11 trifectas en route to the 94-88 victory over No. 23 Lewis at DeSimone Gymnasium on January 20, 2014.

LAST TIME OUT - Lewis shot 57.7% (15-for-26) in the second half and held McKendree to 34.6% (9-for-26) from the floor in the final stanza, as the host Flyers earned the 84-73 GLVC victory over the Bearcats on February 22, 2014.

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 11 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 - 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.

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 29 of its last 35 contests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign for a winning percentage of .829. 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.

COMEBACK KIDS - Lewis has trailed in the second half in nine of its 21 victories this season.

STREAKIN' - Lewis is riding a 16-game winning streak at Neil Carey Arena dating back to last season, which currently is the fourth-longest in the country.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN - Flyer reserves Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) and David Niggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) are shooting a combined 54.5% (24-for-44) from beyond the arc in Lewis' last five games. Henshaw is 11-for-18, while Niggins has hit 13 of his last 26 three-point attempts.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK - As of February 24th, Lewis is fourth in the country in fewest turnovers (234) and fifth in turnovers-per-game (9.4). The Flyers have had 13 games this season with less than 10 turnovers.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK (PART DEUX) - Lewis joined eight 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 up five spots in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Feb. 25) ranking 18th in the country.

PROUD PROGRAM - Lewis 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. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports Division II Coaches Poll released on Tuesday (Feb. 25).

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 - Valla 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.

REGIONALLY RANKED - The Flyers were tabbed sixth in the inaugural NCAA DIvision II Midwest Regional rankings released on February 19th.