Men's Basketball | 1/27/2016 8:00:00 AM

Lewis Flyers (13-6, 5-4 GLVC) at Illinois Springfield (8-11, 2-7 GLVC)
Date	Thursday, January 28
Time	7:30 PM
Location	Springfield, Ill.
Video	UIS Feed
Radio	none
Live Stats	UIS Live Stats
Social Media	@LewisMBBall

Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team heads to the state capital on Thursday (Jan. 28), as the Flyers (13-6, 5-4 GLVC) meet Illinois Springfield (8-11, 2-7). Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM at UIS' TRAC.
   Live stats and video streaming of Thursday's contest - provided by UIS - can be found at LewisFlyers.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 10-3 advantage over UIS in their all-time series

LAST TIME WE MET - Lewis senior forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) notched a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds, along with his 1,000th career-point, as the host Flyers went wire-to-wire for the 70-52 GLVC First Round victory over UIS at Neil Carey Arena on March 1, 2015.

LAST TIME OUT -  Lewis 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 GLVC victory over the host Flyers at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Jan. 23) afternoon.

DOUBLE DOUBLES - Lewis has recorded 11 double-doubles in 19 games this season. The Flyers totaled five double-doubles for the entire 2014-15 campaign.

DOUBLE DOUBLES (PART DEUX) - Lewis junior guard Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) notched a double-double of 17 points and 11 assists against Northwood (Nov. 24). 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.

RECORD-BREAKER (AND TYING) - Sophomore 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, '09) and Gary Paul (Indianapolis, '88).

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.

BEVO FRANCIS AWARD - Strus has been selected to Small College Basketball's Bevo Francis Award watch list. The watch list consists of 100 of the finest players among NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA and NCCAA.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN - Strus' game-winning shot from three-quarter court to beat UMSL at the buzzer on January 16th was the No. 1 play on ESPN SportsCenter that night.

GETTIN' IT DONE - Strus (21.7 ppg./8.9 rpg.) currently leads the Flyers in both scoring and rebounding. The last Flyer to lead his team in scoring and rebounding was Monta McGhee (19.1 ppg./8.6 rpg.) in 2003-04. He also leads the GLVC in scoring and is second in rebounding.  

THAT'S A GOOD PACE - Strus has scored 412 points this season, already matching his total of 412 points as a freshman in 2014-15.

BACK AND FORTH - In Lewis' last three games, there has been 36 ties and 41 lead changes.

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).

BLOCK PARTY  - Lewis leads the GLVC in blocked shots, as the Flyers are swatting 4.79 field goal attempts per game. Freshman Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) (2nd, 1.63 bpg.), Strus (t-13th, 0.89 bpg.) and redshirt junior Jared Ellis (Marion, Ill./Marion) (15th, 0.87 bpg.) are all in the Top 15 in the conference in blocks per game.

CRASHING THE BOARDS - Lewis, led by Strus (7.21 drpg.) is averaging a league-best 28.11 defensive rebounds per game.

CRASHING THE GLASS TOO - Lewis has had eight games of 40 or more rebounds this season, which is the most since the 2007-08 campaign when they had nine.

MAGIC NUMBER - Lewis has won 15 straight games when scoring at least 80 points, dating back to last season.

ALL-AROUND EFFORT - Lewis is 8-1 this season when four or more players score at least 10 points. The Flyers' lone loss came in an 84-70 defeat to Indianapolis (Dec. 5).

CLOSE CALLS - Lewis has had nine games decided by four points or less, or in overtime. The last time the Flyers had that many close calls was in the 2012-13 season when they had nine.