Men's Basketball | 2/10/2016 8:00:00 AM
Game Notes (PDF)
Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team begins its final regular-season road trip on Thursday (Feb. 11), as the Flyers (17-6, 9-4 GLVC) take on GLVC West Division leader Quincy (15-7, 9-4 GLVC). Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM at the Pepsi Arena.
Live stats and video streaming of Thursday's contest - provided by Quincy - can be found at LewisFlyers.com.
ALL-TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 46-38 advantage over Quincy in their all-time series.
LAST TIME WE MET - No. 23 Lewis opened the New Year and the GLVC campaign in style, as the Flyers bested Quincy, 79-59, to extend their winning streak to six games at Pepsi Arena on January 2, 2015.
LAST TIME OUT - Lewis senior forward
Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) led five players in double-figures with 18 points as the Flyers shot 56.9% (33-for-58) from the field en route to the 93-89 GLVC victory over William Jewell at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Feb. 6) afternoon.
SEEKING 1,000 - Nelson needs 41 more points to reach 1,000 points for his career. Sophomore forward
Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) needs 100 to reach the 1,000-point mark.
DOUBLE DOUBLES - Lewis has recorded 16 double-doubles in 23 games this season. That is the most double-doubles by a Flyer team since they had 18 during the 2007-08 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.
CRASHING THE BOARDS - Lewis, led by Strus (7.61 drpg.), is averaging a league-best 28.48 defensive rebounds per game.
CRASHING THE GLASS TOO - Lewis has had 10 games of 40 or more rebounds this season, which is the most since the 2003-04 campaign when they had 12.
STILL CRASHING THAT GLASS - Lewis is averaging 38.52 rebounds-per-game. If the Flyers maintain that pace, they will break the school single-season rebounding average record of 38.44 set in 1992-93.
REALLY CRASHING THAT GLASS - Lewis is the only team in the GLVC that has three players ranked in the Top 20 in rebounding in Strus (1st, 9.3 rpg), Nelson (10th, 6.7 rpg) and freshman guard
Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) who is 18th with 5.6 rebounds-per-game.
BLOCK PARTY - Lewis leads the GLVC in blocked shots, as the Flyers are swatting 4.70 field goal attempts per game. Freshman
Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) (2nd, 1.74 bpg.) and Strus (14th, 0.83 bpg.) are both in the Top 15 in the conference in blocks per game.
BLOCK PARTY (PART DEUX) - Lewis has recorded 108 blocked shots in 2015-16. The Flyers need 10 more swats to break the single-season record of 117 set in 2014-15.
STREAKING - Lewis' current four-game winning streak is tied for the longest in the GLVC along with Missouri-St. Louis.
ALL-AROUND EFFORT - Lewis is 9-1 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).
MAGIC NUMBER - Lewis has won 18 straight games when scoring at least 80 points, dating back to last season.
ROAD WARRIORS - A win against Quincy would give Lewis nine road victories in 2015-16. That would tie the most road wins by a
Scott Trost-led squad, set in 2013-14 (9-4).
RECORD-BREAKER (AND TYING) - Strus 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 (21.2 ppg./9.3 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. If he maintains that scoring average, he will break the Lewis single-season record of 21.0 points-per-game, set by Rich Aigner in 1993-94.
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).
CLOSE CALLS - Lewis has had 12 games decided by four points or less, or in overtime. The last time the Flyers had that many close calls was in the 1998-99 season when they had 12.
MODEL OF EFFICIENCY - Senior forward
Brad Foster (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) has made 72.7% (48-for-66) of his shots this season. He needs two more baskets to qualify to break the single-season FG% record of 70.0% (243-for-347) set by Larry Tucker (1981-82).
HOT SHOOTING - Lewis has shot 50.0% or above in 11 of its 23 games this season.
