ROMEOVILLE – The Lewis University Men's Basketball team locked in for a fierce 40 minute hardwood brawl on Friday Night where they walked away with their first win of the season. 
 
TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 1-0 | Malone 0-1

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) (25), Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (18)
Rebounds: Warden (9)
Assists: Warden (3), Jaylin Gibson (Evanston,IL/Evanston Township) (3)
Steals: Stround (3)
 
GAME SUMMARY
Game two of Friday night's GLVC/GMAC Challange began with an early layup from Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) which was reciprocated by the Pioneers. There was then a shortage of scoring for a few minutes as both teams struggled with turnovers. Lewis got behind in the first half and would play from that position for a large majority of the game. 

Stroud scored the first points of his explosive night off a three and the assist from Warden. Tough defense was a point of emphasis for both teams as there were a numerous amount of forced and unforced turnovers in the first half. Down 18-9 Stroud went up with the basketball and nearly came down with the rim after a huge slam got him and his team scoring again. 

Four clean Jumpers by Warden, Refro and two from Gibson made the half 18-17 and put the Flyers back in contention. Both teams continued to fight as the score stay close heading into the final five minutes of the first half. Stroud had a nice layup to make it 33-30 Malone lead, but the Pioneers worked their way to the bread line for some free throws. Down by six, Warden hit a deep three to bring Lewis within three, he would stay active on the offensive side of the court with four free throws and a heavily contested jump shot to tie the game with 40 at halftime. 

After a great closing to the first half by Warden, Stround got to work beginning the second with a layup plus the foul the give Lewis their first lead since the start of the match. The game stayed lock within a two point margin for a hefty portion of the second half, with good layups from Stroud and Renfro kept it close for the Flyers. 

A big credit goes out to Cem Kirciman (Istanbul, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) for contributing six points on the night but also providing great paint defense adding two blocks and three rebounds in his 15 minutes played. His two free throws late in the second quarter gave Lewis a push to add some separation between them and Malone.

Stroud who had a terrific night on both ends of the court hit two back to back iso jumpers from along the baseline to give Lewis a five point lead. Malone worked their way back into it and found themselves down by two at the free throw line. The Pioneers would go on to miss five out of their next six free throws. Lewis would power through the reminder of the match winning, 78-71.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers retake the floor tomorrow in the final game of the GLVC/GMAC Challenge against Tiffin on Nov. 9 at 3:00 pm.