ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team opened up Great Lakes Valley Conference play in a big way as the Flyers defeated Drury, 75-64, at Neil Carey Arena Thursday (Nov. 30). 

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 2-3, 1-0 GLVC | Drury 5-2, 0-1 GLVC

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Jamere Hill (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) (28), Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (11) 
Rebounds: Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) (15) 
Assists: Hill (6)
Steals: Renfro (2) 
Blocks: Hill (1), Renfro (1) 

SUMMARY
Lewis started the game on a 8-2 run capped off by a basket by Gary Solomon (Eastpointe, Mich.). Drury responded with a bucket before the Flyers got a three by Solomon and a bucket from Frericks made it 15-4 at the 14:15 mark. 

Both teams traded threes before Lewis went on another run and made it 24-9 after a basket by Anthony Sayles Jr. (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) The Panthers bounced back with a jumper before Sayles made a three-pointer and Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) made a layup. 

Lewis closed out the final three minutes of the first half on a 10-3 run to go up 45-22 at the break. Hill closed out the half with a three-point play after he was fouled after making a basket in the paint. 

Both teams started the second half with back-to-back baskets before Drury recorded two straight baskets to try to carry some momentum. Renfro extended the Flyer lead to 52-32 with 13:38 to play in the contest. 

Drury went a 9-2 run the next three minutes to cut it down to 12 (54-42). Cem Kirciman (Bursa, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) looked to stop the bleeding for the Flyers with the next basket but the Panthers stayed in the contest after knocking down their triples.

Logan Applegate knocked down a three-pointer to cut it down to five (58-53) with 6:26 left but that was the closest Drury got as the Flyers had the answer. The Panthers however made it down to five again after knocking down another three but Lewis was able to go on a 13-1 run the next four minutes to go up 74-57. 

Drury had one last push towards the end of the contest but it was already too late as the Flyers held them off even though the Panthers made a shot at the buzzer.

FINAL SCORE: Lewis 75, Drury 64

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Saturday (Dec. 2) as the Flyers host Southwest Baptist at 3 p.m.