Joliet, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team exploded to a 34-3 lead and never looked back, defeating St. Francis 77-41 Thursday (Dec. 14) at the Sullivan Center.

The Flyers (4-6) scored the first nine points of the game and then went on runs of 11-0 and 14-0 to build their lead.

They held the Fighting Saints (4-7) to one made field goal in the first 14 minutes of the game.

It was a 38-17 lead for the Flyers at the half and they lead by as many as 42 points, 68-26, with 6:08 left in the game.

Josh Niego (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) and Jake Reinhart (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic) scored 11 points each to lead the Flyers, while Donovan Oliver (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) and Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) scored 10 points apiece. Adam Pischke (Cary, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) scored nine points, Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) had eight points and Cristen Wilson (Cleveland, Ohio/John Hay) tallied seven points and seven rebounds.

Lewis shot 52.8 percent (28-of-53) for the game, while limiting St. Francis to 26.8 percent (11-for-41) shooting. Lewis also went 11-for-22 from beyond the arc.

The Flyers outrebounded the Fighting Saints 37-28 and forced 19 turnovers.

Lewis is back on the road Monday (Dec. 18) when it travels to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to take on Ferris State at Godwin Heights High School. Tip is at 7 PM ET.