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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team gave No. 6 Bellarmine all it could handle, but the Knights scored nine out of the game's final 12 points to earn the 69-65 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over the host Flyers at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Jan. 23) afternoon.

Bellarmine junior guard Rusty Troutman hit a game-high five three-pointers to finish with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds, while teammate Yasin Kolo added 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting, including two trifectas.

"Our guys competed, but we made some crucial turnovers down the stretch that was the difference in the game," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "We competed, we played hard and we battled, but we need to execute better.

"It should give our guys confidence knowing that we can compete with a team (like Bellarmine), and we had every opportunity to beat them," Trost continued. "You just have to be able to make plays down the stretch and we didn't do that today."

Bellarmine improves to 15-3 overall and 8-1 in conference play, while the Flyers fall to 13-6 on the campaign and 5-4 in GLVC action.

Lewis sophomore forward Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) posted a game-high 26 points and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) collected 19 points and six rebounds. Both Strus and Blaylock connected for three trifectas.

The game featured 14 ties and 18 lead changes, with Lewis' final advantage of 62-60 coming after a Blaylock three-pointer with 2:42 remaining in the contest. The Knights answered with a three-pointer by Nick Fredrick (9 points, 3 treys) with 2:14 left, giving Bellarmine the 63-62 lead.

The Flyers would turn the ball over on the next two possessions, and the Knights' took advantage, scoring four consecutive points to extend their lead to 67-62 with 42 seconds remaining.

Lewis senior center Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) would convert a three-point play with 31 seconds left to bring the Flyers to within 67-65. The Flyers forced a turnover on the ensuing possession and had a chance to tie the game with 30 seconds left.

Turnovers plagued the Flyers yet again, as junior guard Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) slipped and lost control of the ball. Bellarmine guard Al Davis came up with the steal and the Flyers were forced to foul.

Bellarmine senior guard Michael Parrish hit both of his charity shots with 14 seconds left to clinch the game for the Knights.

For the game, Lewis committed 13 turnovers, which led to 23 points. The Flyers also scord 18 points off of 14 Bellarmine miscues. Bellarmine shot 45.5% (10-for-22) from three-point land, while the Flyers knocked down 31.6% (6-for-19) of their long range attempts.

Lewis is back in action on Thursday (Jan. 28), as the Flyers head to the state capital to square off with Illinois Springfield for a 7:30 PM tip-off.