COLUMBUS, OHIO -- The Lewis University men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with a 80-75 victory on the road at Ohio Dominican at Alumni Hall Friday.
TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 1-0 | Ohio Dominican 0-1
LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (17),
Gary Solomon (Eastpointe, Mich.) (16),
Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) (14),
Destin Logan (College Park, Ga./Skills Factory Prep) (12),
Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) (11)
Rebounds: Renfro (13)
Assists: Frericks (4)
Steals: Frericks (2), Solomon (2)
Blocks: Logan (1)
HALF SUMMARY
FIRST HALF: Ohio Dominican 28, Lewis 24
Lewis jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after Frericks converted an and-one in the first four minutes of the contest. Ohio Dominican responded with a 8-3 run to grab a 10-9 lead with 14:06 to play in the half.
The Flyers responded after back-to-back three pointers by Frericks and
Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) the next three minutes to make it 15-10. Moments later in the first half, ODU grabbed a 26-20 lead after outscoring lewis 16-5 the next 10 minutes.
Renfro gave Lewis some momentum going into the break after knocking down a three-pointer with three seconds left as the Panthers led 28-24 at the half.
SECOND HALF: Lewis 56, Ohio Dominican 47
Both teams traded baskets to open the second half before ODU scored six straight to grab a 36-26 lead at the 16:47 mark. The Panthers built on its lead and made it 46-32 with 13:29 to play in the contest.
Lewis was able to respond with a 13-6 run to pull within seven (52-45) after a dunk by Solomon with 10:14 left to go. ODU knocked down a pair at the charity stripe to make it 57-48 under eight minutes to play.
The Flyers went on to score eight straight points after Solomon converted a three-point play, Vanderheydt knocked down a triple and Renfro knocked down a pair at the line to cut it down to one (57-56) with 6:40 remaining in the game. ODU responded with a layup then Vanderheydt knocked down a three-pointer to tie the contest at 59-all.
Both teams would trade leads the next two minutes after knocking down a pair of free throws and a couple of threes which made it 64-64 with 4:10 left in the contest. Frericks sparked a huge momentum swing for Lewis after converting on a three-point play which gave the Flyers a 68-67 lead with 2:51 to play.
Lewis was able to go on a 10-2 run which gave them a 76-69 lead with 44 seconds to play. ODU tried one last push to cut it down to 78-75 but Logan knocked down a pair at the free-throw line to win 80-75.
FINAL SCORE: Lewis 80, Ohio Dominican 75
UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action for the second day of the GLVC/GMAC Crossover as the Flyers take on Tiffin Saturday, November 11 starting at noon.
