ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team defeated Wayne State 86-67 behind a career day from Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) and Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) at Neil Carey Arena Tuesday (Nov. 26). Vanderheydt recorded 27 points on 9-12 shooting and Warden picked up 25 while shooting 9-13 from the floor both career-high totals for both players.

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 3-2 | Wayne State 1-4
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. Wayne State
Points:  Vanderheydt (27), Warden (25), Cem Kirciman (Istanbul, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) (11), Jaylin Gibson (Evanston,IL/Evanston Township) (10)
Rebounds:  Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) (8)
Assists: Gibson (6)
Steals: Marieon Anderson (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) (2), Warden (2)
Blocks:  Gibson (1), Warden (1)

GAME SUMMARY
Both teams traded layups to begin the scoring in the first two minutes. Wayne State outscored Lewis 8-2 in the next five minutes to go up 10-4.

The Flyers bounced back with nine unanswered including a basket from Anderson, a pair by Kirciman and an and-one by Stroud to make it 13-10. The Warriors cut it down to 16-15 with 8:57 to go before Lewis scored nine straight.

Gibson and Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) made baskets, Vanderheydt knocked down a triple and then Anderson made a jumper which gave Lewis a 25-15 advantage. Wayne State got the ensuing basket before Renfro made a layup then Warden knocked one in from downtown to extend the Lewis lead to 30-17.

Wayne State did not give in as the Warriors put up seven straight to cut the deficit to 30-24 with 1:53 to go before the half. Lewis closed out the half outscoring the Warriors 5-3 after Vanderheydt knocked down a pair of jumpers.

Both teams traded a pair of baskets to open up the second half before Vanderheydt scored six straight, including and an one a three-pointer to extend the Lewis lead to 46-31 at the 17:10 mark. Wayne State tried to get back in the contest after knocking down back-to-back buckets to cut it down to 11 but Lewis had the response.

Kirciman had a basket then Warden had a layup then knocked down a triple to make it a 18-point contest (53-35) with 12:50 to play. Wayne State got within 11 (63-52) with 7:41 remaining in the game but Lewis kept scoring.

Warden knocked down a pair of three-pointers which served to be the daggers which gave Lewis a 69-53 advantage with 6:35 to play. The Warriors had one last push in them as they scored eight consecutive points to make it 70-64 with 4:07 to play to make Lewis call timeout. 

Lewis knocked down some clutch free throws late in the contest to keep them ahead and build their double-digit lead again including Vanderheydt's team-high sixth three-pointer to put the game away. The Flyers ended up winning 86-67.

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action on Monday, December 2, when the Flyers begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play on the road against Indianapolis at 6:30 p.m. CT.