KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lewis University's men's basketball team led wire-to-wire in its 73-47 win at Rockhurst at Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday (Jan. 3) afternoon. The Flyers improve to 4-2 overall and in the GLVC while the Hawks fall to 3-4 overall and in the GLVC.

Lewis jumped out to an early lead as Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) hit a three-pointer to open the scoring and the Flyers wouldn't look back as they built an early eight-point lead. Rockhurst closed to within four at 12-8 after two Nick Volz free throws with 12:55 remaining in the half but that would be the closest it got the remainder of the contest.

Lewis led by as many as 16 in the frame after an old fashioned three-point play from Vlado Zrnic (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) with 1:10 to in the stanza. The Flyers outscored the Hawks 22-13 over the final 12 minutes of the half to take a 34-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Lewis' defense was stingy in the opening half holding Rockhurst to just 25 percent shooting (6-for-24) from the field in the frame and just 1-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc. It's lone three came on the final possession of the half. The Hawks made more free throws (8) than field goals in the first 20 minutes

On the other end, the Flyers shot 43 percent (12-for-28) from the floor, were 4-of-10 from beyond the arc and shot 86 percent at the foul line. They outrebounded Rockhurst 23-12 and turned nine Hawk turnovers into eight points.

Bruno Williams (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) was one of seven Lewis players to score in the half and led all scorers with 12 points.

The Flyers opened the second half on an 8-0 run and wouldn't see their lead dip below 19 points the rest of the way.

Lewis led by as many as 27 points in the contest after two Connor Niego (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) free throws with 2:55 left in the contest.

The Flyers finished the contest shooting 52 percent (26-for-50) from the field, were 6-of-16 from three and shot 88 percent at the charity stripe. They outrebounded the Hawks 40-23 and had 10 different players score in the contest with four of those reaching double figures. Williams led all scorers with 16 points while Zrnic finished with a career-high 13 points, Niego added 11 points and Trevian Bell (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) finished with a double-double recording 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The 47 points allowed were the fewest Lewis has allowed in a game since an 80-47 win over Saginaw Valley on Nov. 18, 2017. The Flyer defense held Rockhurst to 28 percent (14-for-50) shooting from the field, 2-of-25 from beyond the arc and 71 percent at the foul line.

Lewis continues its four-game roadtrip this Thursday (Jan. 7) as it travels to St. Louis to take on the Maryville Saints at 7:30 p.m.