HOUGHTON, Mich. – Terry Ford's (Toledo, Ohio/Mineral Area JC) layup with 1:58 remaining in the game broke a 67-67 tie and Atakan Sahinkaya's (Istanbul, Turkey/Troy State) layup sealed the deal as the Lewis University men's basketball team escaped a monumental second half comeback attempt from the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover hosts Michigan Tech for a 71-67 victory to open the 2022-23 season.
 
Lewis Leaders
Points: Jamere Hill (Joliet, Ill./Toledo) (16)
Rebounds: Sahinkaya (8)
Assists: Hill (2)
Blocks: Sahinkaya, Cem Kirciman (Bursa, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay), and Ford (1)
Steals: Hill (3)
 
RECORDS
Lewis 1-0 | Michigan Tech 0-1

SUMMARY
Lewis (1-0) built a lead by as many as 16 at 55-39 when Beau Frericks' (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) layup with 12:01 to go in the game, but Michigan Tech (0-1) playing inside its SDC Gymnasium and the raucous home crowd would see the Huskies make a furious comeback.
 
With Lewis leading by 16 off Beau Frerick's layup at the 12:01 mark in the second half, Michigan Tech reeled off a 19-5 run that included nine points from Marcus Tomashek and another six from Brad Simonsen to draw the Huskies to within 60-58 with 8:03 left in the game.
 
Michigan Tech would later take a 65-64 lead, Frericks drained a trey that was assisted by Ford to put Lewis up 67-65. Hobson would quickly even the score at 67-67. Ford's driving layup put the Flyers back on top 69-67 with 1:58 to go.
 
Hill's play in the first half propelled the Flyers as he went 6-for-8 from the field with 12 points to go along with five rebounds, three steals and an assist.
 
Sahinkaya also had a brilliant first half to open the season going 3-of-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Sahinkaya also hauled in five assists.
 
Lewis saw leads by as many as 14 late in the first half.
 
Hobson led all scorers with 25 points for the Huskies.
 
UP NEXT
Lewis returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 13 to conclude the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge when they take on Northern Michigan University at 11 a.m. CT.