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Lebanon, Ill.  -  The Lewis University men's basketball team went on a 26-8 run to open the second half and held on for the 87-79 Great Lakes Valley Conference road victory over McKendree University at the Statham Center on Saturday (Jan. 30) afternoon.

Lewis sophomore forward Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Flyers. It was the most rebounds by a Flyer since Stephan Bolt had 18 against Indianapolis on February 21, 2008.

Flyer freshman Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) had 20 points and six rebounds on 7-for-15 shooting, while senior forward Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) totaled 19 points and six boards on 8-for-13 shooting from the field. Lewis junior point guard Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) had 13 points in the victory.
 
"We played well today and I think we figured a few things out," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "It was a great team effort against a (McKendree) team that is playing really well right now."

With the win, Lewis improves to 15-6 overall and 7-4 in GLVC action, while the host Bearcats drop to 10-9 on the campaign and 3-8 in conference play.

McK junior guard David Franklin had a game-high 22 points, while junior guard Michael Jackson and Nate Michael each contributed 17 points in the loss. Bearcat junior guard Kyle Yates had 10 points. 

During that second half run, the Flyers knocked down 12-for-16 field goal attempts, including two three-pointers, to extend their 42-41 lead to a 21-point advantage at 68-47 with 10:47 left in the game. Blaylock and Nelson both scored eight points during that stretch.

The Flyers would need every bit of that run.

McKendree answered with a 32-14 run of their own over the next 9:50 to narrow Lewis' lead to 82-79 with 57 seconds left on the clock, following  a Franklin lay-up.

The Bearcats would foul on Lewis' next possession, sending Flyer junior guard Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) to the line for a pair of free throws. Henshaw (4 points, 3 assists) would split the charity shots, pushing Lewis' lead to 83-79 with 32 seconds remaining.

McKendree was unable to convert on the other end, and the Bearcats were forced to foul again, clinching the game for the Flyers.

For the game, Lewis shot 52.4% (33-for-63) from the field, while McKendree converted 41.9% (26-for-62) of its attempts. The Flyers enjoyed a sizeable advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Bearcats, 42-30.

Lewis returns home on Thursday (Feb. 4) as they welcome Rockhurst to Neil Carey Arena for a 7:30 PM tip-off.