Men's Basketball | 12/2/2015 8:00:00 AM

Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team opens Great Lakes Valley Conference action on Thursday (Dec. 3), as the Flyers (5-1, 0-0 GLVC) head to Rensselaer, Ind., for a 7:30 PM tip-off against Saint Joseph's (1-4, 0-0 GLVC) at Scharf Fieldhouse.
   Live stats and video streaming of Thursday's contest - provided by Saint Joseph's - can be found at LewisFlyers.com.

LAST TIME WE MET - Lewis senior guards Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) and Gabe Williams (Chicago, Ill./Farragut) keyed a 14-2 second half run, helping the Flyers rally from a four-point deficit and end their three-game losing streak with the 88-76 GLVC victory over Saint Joseph's at Neil Carey Arena on January 29, 2015.
    
ALL-TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 49-25 advantage over Saint Joseph's in their all-time series.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING - Lewis has won eight straight contests over Saint Joseph's - dating back to a 71-65 loss to the Pumas on February 13, 2010.

LAST TIME OUT - Lewis used a stifling defense and knocked down a team-season high 24 free throws as the Flyers gritted out a 62-60 regional victory over Wayne State at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Nov. 28) afternoon.

RECORD-BREAKER (AND TYING) - Lewis sophomore forward Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) broke the Flyer single-game scoring record of 46, with 52 points on 14-for-18 shooting, including an amazing 12-for-14 from three-point range in the 99-95 win over Northwood (Nov. 24). That outing surpasses the previous Lewis record set by John Lucas during the 1969-70 campaign. His 52 points also ties the GLVC single-game record, set by LaVontay Fenderson (UW-Parkside, 2009) and Gary Paul (Indianapolis, 1988).

RECORD-BREAKER?? - Based on available records, Strus' 12 three-pointers against Northwood is the most trifectas by a Flyer dating back to the 1996-97 campaign. Lewis' 17 three-pointers as a team, are also the most by a Flyer squad since 1996-97.

GIVE THAT MAN AN AWARD (OR TWO) - Strus averaged 38 points and 13 rebounds in victories over Northwood (Nov. 24) and Wayne State (Nov. 28). For his efforts, he was named both the GLVC and USBWA National Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 29th.

DOUBLE DOUBLES - Strus has recorded double-doubles in three consecutive games. The last Flyer to have a double-double in four consecutive games was Stephan Bolt during the 2007-08 campaign.

DOUBLE DOUBLES (PART DEUX) - Lewis has recorded seven double-doubles in six games this season. The Flyers totaled five double-doubles for the entire 2014-15 campaign.

DOUBLE DOUBLES (PART TROIS) - Lewis junior guard Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) notched a double-double of 17 points and 11 assists against Northwood. It was the first point/assist double-double by a Flyer since Brandon Dagans had 20 points and 10 assists against Carthage on December 30, 2006.

GETTIN' IT DONE - Strus (26.8 ppg./10.5 rpg.) currently leads the Flyers and the GLVC in both scoring and rebounding (as of Nov. 30). The last Flyer to lead his team in scoring and rebounding was Monta McGhee (19.1 ppg./8.6 rpg.) in 2003-04.

REAPING THE BENEFITS - Simelton currently leads the GLVC with 4.8 assists-per-game. 2.8 of his assists (14-of-29) led directly to Strus baskets.

DOWN TO THE WIRE - Lewis' last five games have been decided by four points or less; or have gone to overtime.

GLVC OPENERS - Lewis is 4-5 in GLVC openers under head coach Scott Trost.

GETTING TO THE LINE - Lewis has knocked down at least 20 free throws in each of its last two contests. They have not done that in three straight games since the 2011-12 season.

TOURNAMENT TESTED - Lewis is the only team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference that has advanced to the GLVC Quarterfinals in each of the past nine seasons.

RANKED SCHMANKED - Lewis has defeated at least one nationally-ranked Division II team in each of the last five seasons - including last season's 70-61 win over then No. 1 ranked Indianapolis.

TOUGH CROWD - Entering the season, Lewis has averaged over 20 wins in the last three years with 62 total victories. That would put them sixth overall among GLVC teams in total wins behind league leader and 2013 National Champion, Drury (80).

HE'S A LEGACY - Strus is the brother of former Flyer standout Marty Strus (2008-12). Marty is Lewis' all-time leader in blocked shots (181).

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH - Lewis recorded nine slam dunks in the win against Cedarville on November 13th. That is the most flushes in the Trost era since they had five against both Drury (2/12/15) and St. Francis (12/11/10).