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Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University freshmen Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) and Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) combined for 45 points and shot 70.8% (17-for-24) from the field as the Flyer men's basketball team held off a late Missouri S&T rally and earned the 84-80 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Jan. 9) afternoon.

Blaylock collected a season-high 27 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including a season-best five three-pointers. He added eight rebounds four assists and a block. Vukaj was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and finished with a season-best 18 points.

"(Frank and Delaney) both played great today," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "I thought Delaney was fantastic. He hit three's, had some big rebounds, made some plays off the bounce and it was certainly his best performance of the year."

Lewis sophomore forward Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while junior guard Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) collected 13 points, including four three-pointers. Flyer senior forward Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) finished with seven points and game-highs in both rebounds (11) and assists (6).

With the victory, Lewis improves to 10-4 overall and 2-2 in GLVC action, while the Miners fall to 7-7 on the campaign and 3-2 in conference play.

Missouri S&T guard Zach Ellis came off of the bench to score a team-best 24 points, including four three-pointers. Miner forward Rokas Paulauskas added 12 points and a team-best six rebounds, while guard Desmond Buerge pitched in 10 points. Missouri S&T leading scorer B.J. McLaughlin (16.1 ppg.) finished with eight points, but fouled out with 17:37 remaining in the game.

Lewis led by as many as 24 points in the second half, before the Miners staged a furious comeback. Missouri S&T went on a 37-17 run over the final 16 minutes, but could come no closer than a four-point deficit.

The Flyers enjoyed a sizeable advantage on the glass, as they tied a season-high with 43 rebounds, while the Miners gathered in just 32 caroms. As a team, Lewis shot 50.0% (28-for-56) from the field and 39.3% (11-for-28) from three-point range. Missouri S&T knocked down 41.8% (28-for-67) of their shots and 34.6% (9-for-26) from beyond the arc.

"It's a good team win," Trost said. "It gives our guys some confidence and I'm certainly proud of their effort today."

Lewis returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 14), as they travel to St. Louis to square off with Maryville for a 7:30 PM tip-off.