LEBANON, Ill. – The Lewis men's basketball team led by as many as 22 in the contest but had to hold off a second half rally to earn a 69-61 win at McKendree on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers improve to 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the GLVC while the Bearcats fall to 8-12, 4-7 in the GLVC.

Lewis opened the game on an 18-0 run and hit seven of its first 11 shots from the field including four three-pointers before McKendree got on the board on a jumper by Carrington Bass with 13:29 to play in the half.

After a pair of free throws by the Bearcats made it 18-4 the Flyers ran off another eight in a row to build its largest lead of the half at 26-4. McKendree rattled off seven in a row to cut the deficit to 15 with 7:11 left in the frame. The two sides traded buckets over the final seven minutes of the half as Lewis went into the locker room with a 38-22 lead at the intermission.

The Bearcats scored the first seven points of the second half to cut the Lewis lead to 38-29 after two free throws from Nolan Gerling. The Flyers responded with six quick points with four of those coming at the foul line to extend the lead back to double digits.

Despite having only eight players in uniform McKendree continued to fight cutting the lead to seven on a three-pointer from Jacob Donaldson with 13:38 to play.

With Lewis leading by seven, Kendale McCullum (Elgin, Ill./Elgin Larkin) scored on a back-to-back layups to extend the lead back to double digits with 9:47 to play. The lead grew back to 12 but the Bearcats cut it to six with 6:41 remaining.

Lewis hit some big shots down the stretch to keep McKendree at bay. Adam Pischke (Cary, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) hit a big three to extend the lead back to 10 and then after the Bearcats cut it to seven, Anthony D'Avanzo (Harwood Heights, Ill./Notre Dame) hit a 17-foot jumper to extend the lead to 67-58 with 1:42 remaining.

Logan Kohrmann answered with a three on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to six. McKendree had three chances in the final 75 seconds to get closer but the Flyers came up with a couple of defensive stops and then McCullum sealed it hitting two free throws with 0:18 left.

Lewis finished the game shooting 42.6 percent (26-for-61) from the floor, was 9-of-23 from three and shot 89 percent at the foul line. It outrebounded McKendree 39-to-37 and outscored the Bearcats 26-to-18 on points in the paint.

Pischke led all scorers with 21 points and led four Flyers in double figures. McCullum finished with 14 points, Donovan Oliver (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee) added 11 and Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) dropped home 10. McCullum also grabbed 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

The Bearcats shot 35 percent (20-for-57) from the field in the contest, was 10-for-29 from three and shot 73 percent at the foul line. Donaldson was the lone player to reach double figures in scoring for McKendree with 14 points. Kohrmann and Nate Michael added nine points apiece.

Lewis begins its final homestand of the season on Thursday hosting top ranked and undefeated Bellarmine at 7:30 p.m. Thursday's contest will also be the fourth annual Christian Brothers Bash with free food and prizes being given away.