Men's Basketball | 3/4/2016 10:06:00 PM
Game Notes (PDF)
St. Charles, Mo. - The Lewis University men's basketball team makes its first appearance in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Semifinals in eight seasons, as the #5 Flyers (22-8) take on top-seeded and 12th ranked Bellarmine (23-5). Tip-off is set for 6 PM on Saturday at Family Arena.
Live stats and video streaming of Saturday's contest - provided by the GLVC - can be found at LewisFlyers.com. The game can also be heard on LewisFlyers.com and WJOL (1340 AM) with
Mark Vasko providing the play-by-play action for the Lewis Sports Network.
ALL-TIME SERIES - Since Lewis entered the Division II ranks, the Flyers hold a 38-30 advantage over Bellarmine in their all-time series.
LAST TIME WE MET - Bellarmine 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 January 23, 2016.
LAST TIME WE MET IN THE TOURNAMENT - No. 1 Bellarmine, behind a game-high 28 points from junior guard Jeremy Kendle, earrned the 82-62 victory in the GLVC Quarterfinals at the Prairie Capital Convention Center on March 2, 2012.
LAST TIME OUT - Lewis had five players score in double-figures, led by a game-high 25 points from
Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg), to earn the GLVC Quarterfinal victory over #4 Indianapolis on Friday (March 4) afternoon.
FOUND 1,000 - Strus and senior forward
Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) both scored their 1,000th career points against Indianapolis. Strus did it in Friday's victory, while Nelson did it in the regular-season on February 18th.
DOUBLE DOUBLES - Lewis has recorded 19 double-doubles in 30 games this season.
HOT SHOOTING - Lewis has shot 50.0% or above in 16 of its 30 games this season.
SIMELTON SAYS - Since scoring a season-high 33 points against UIS on January 28th, junior guard
Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) is averaging 17.1 points-per-game and shooting 54.5% (18-for-33) from three-point range. Prior to that contest, the Oswego, Ill., native was averaging 9.4 points-per-game and shooting 36.7% from behind the arc.
CLOSE CALLS - Lewis has had 14 games decided by four points or less, or in overtime, and have a record of 12-2 in those games.
RECORD-BREAKER (AND TYING) - Strus broke the Flyer single-game scoring record of 46, and tied the GLVC single-game record 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).
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.
ANOTHER RECORD?? - Strus needs just three points to break the single season scoring record of 608 set by Lewis Hall of Famer Larry Tucker in 1982-83.
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.
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 50 of the finest players among NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA and NCCAA.
GETTIN' IT DONE - Strus (20.2 ppg./8.8 rpg./3.7 apg.) currently leads the Flyers in scoring, rebounding and assists. No one in Lewis history has led the team in all three statistical categories.
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).
CRASHING THE BOARDS - Lewis, led by Strus (7.23 drpg.), is averaging a league-best 28.10 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.
ALL-AROUND EFFORT - Lewis is 13-1 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).
STILL CRASHING THAT GLASS - Lewis is the only team in the GLVC that has three players ranked in the Top 16 in rebounding in Strus (1st, 8.8 rpg), Nelson (9th, 6.6 rpg) and freshman guard
Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) who is 16th with 5.9 rebounds-per-game.
BLOCK PARTY - Lewis leads the GLVC in blocked shots, as the Flyers are swatting 4.53 field goal attempts per game. Freshman
Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) (2nd, 1.57 bpg.) and Strus (12th, 0.87 bpg.) are both in the Top 12 in the conference in blocks per game.
BLOCK PARTY (PART DEUX) - Lewis has recorded a school-record 136 blocked shots in 2015-16, breaking the previous record of 117 set last season.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY - Since 2009-10, Lewis, Drury, Southern Indiana and Bellarmine are the only teams in the GLVC to win at least 17 games each season since.
MODEL OF EFFICIENCY - Senior forward
Brad Foster (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) has made 71.2% (52-for-73) of his shots this season. That mark would stand as a Lewis single-season record for field goal percentage. Vukaj currently leads the GLVC in shooting percentage at 65.5% (91-for-139). Vukaj meets the GLVC minimum of 3.0 made field goals per game.
NICE JOB ROOK - Blaylock was selected as the GLVC Co-Freshman of the Year on Wednesday (March 2). He is the third Flyer to win this award in the last five years, joining Strus (2015) and
Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) (2012).
MAGIC NUMBER - Lewis has won 23 straight games when scoring at least 80 points, dating back to last season.
ALL GLVC - Strus was a unanimous selection to the All-GLVC First Team and Nelson was tabbed an All-GLVC Second Team selection.
