ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis University men's basketball team lost its third straight home game as the Flyers fall to Illinois Springfield in overtime, 88-85, on Saturday, February 4.
 
LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (21), Vlado Zrnic (Greendale, Wis./Don Bosco Prep) (21) and Jamere Hill (Joliet, Ill./Toledo) (21)
Rebounds: Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) (8), Zrnic (7) and Colin Kenney (Michigan City, Ind./Furman) (6)
Assists: Hill (4), Zrnic (3) and Frericks (2)
Steals: Hill (2) and Frericks (2)
Blocks: Zrnic (1)
 
RECORDS
University of Illinois Springfield 14-8, 8-6 GLVC | Lewis 8-14, 3-11 GLVC |
 
SUMMARY
This season, Lewis has played four games that were decided by three points and unfortunately for the Flyers, they found themselves on the wrong side of the outcome again.
 
To start the game, Lewis was trailing 8-2 after three minutes due to Illinois Springfield making three of their first four shots. Frericks, the Flyers leading scorer this season at 15.7 per game, scored seven quick points to give Lewis its first lead of the game.
 
Both teams traded runs throughout the first half as the Prairie Stars went on a 9-0 run, giving themselves a double-digit lead. Lewis was able to withstand the run and trailed by six at halftime.
 
In the second half, Lewis was trailing by as much as 20, 66-46, before they were able to storm and force overtime. Throughout the final 10 minutes of regulation, Lewis went on a 30-10 run.
 
Hill and Zrnic combined to score 22 points in the final 10-minute stretch of the second half. The late surge by Lewis gave them a three-point lead with two seconds remaining in regulation, but on a last second shot attempt, Keith Johnson of Illinois Springfield was fouled shooting a three. He made all three free throws and with Zrnic missing a desperation heave, the game was headed into overtime.
 
In overtime, the Flyers were moments was away from fully completing the comeback, holding a one-point lead with 1:06 left. After a turnover by both teams, Illinois Springfield was able to knock down two sets of free throws to earn a three-point lead with three seconds left. A last 3-pointer by Frericks just missed and in heartbreaking defeat.
 
As a team, Lewis shot a better field goal and 3-point percentage than Illinois Springfield.

UP NEXT
In hopes of ending its three-game losing skid, Lewis travels to Liberty, Missouri to take on William Jewell College on Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT