Men's Basketball | 1/29/2016 1:15:00 PM
Game Notes (PDF)Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team continues its trek through the Land of Lincoln, as the Flyers (14-6, 6-4 GLVC) square off with McKendree (10-8, 3-7) on Saturday (Jan. 30) afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference tilt. Tip-off is set for 3 PM at McKendree's Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
  Live stats and video streaming of Saturday's contest - provided by McKendree - can be found at LewisFlyers.com.
ALL-TIME SERIES - Since entering the Division II ranks, Lewis owns a 7-1 advantage over the Bearcats in their all-time series.
LAST TIME WE MET - Lewis registered season-highs in points, field goals made and field goal percentage as the Flyers won their eighth-straight and 20th game overall with the 98-70 GLVC win over McKendree at the Statham Center on Feb. 21, 2015.
LAST TIME OUT -Â Lewis, led by a game-high 33 points from junior guard
Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego), converted 21-of-25 free throws in overtime as the visiting Flyers claimed the 88-80 (2 OT) win over UIS on Thursday (Jan. 28) night.
DOUBLE DOUBLES - Lewis has recorded 13 double-doubles in 20 games this season. The Flyers totaled a combined 16 double-doubles from 2013-15.
DOUBLE DOUBLES (PART DEUX) - Simelton 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.
SEEKING 1,000 - Senior forward
Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) needs 89 more points to reach 1,000 points for his career.
BACK AND FORTH - In Lewis' last four games, there has been 42 ties and 49 lead changes.
CRASHING THE BOARDS - Lewis, led by Strus (7.35 drpg.) is averaging a league-best 28.90 defensive rebounds per game.
CRASHING THE GLASS TOO - Lewis has had nine games of 40 or more rebounds this season, which is the most since the 2007-08 campaign when they had nine. The Flyers' 49 caroms against UIS on Thursday was the most since by a Lewis squad since they grabbed 50 against Judson on December 19, 2012.
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).
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 (21.4 ppg./9.0 rpg.) currently leads the Flyers and the GLVC 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'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 PARTYÂ - Lewis leads the GLVC in blocked shots, as the Flyers are swatting 4.65 field goal attempts per game. Freshman
Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) (2nd, 1.60 bpg.), redshirt junior
Jared Ellis (Marion, Ill./Marion) (14th, 0.87 bpg.) and Strus (15th, 0.85 bpg.) are all in the Top 15 in the conference in blocks per game.
MAGIC NUMBER - Lewis has won 16 straight games when scoring at least 80 points, dating back to last season.
CLOSE CALLS - Lewis has had 10 games decided by four points or less, or in overtime. The last time the Flyers had that many close calls was in the 2010-11 season when they had ten.
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