KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team ended 2024 with a 62-57 victory against Parkside Saturday (Dec. 21) to close out its road trip 4-1. 

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 7-3 | Parkside 3-7
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. PARKSIDE
Points:  Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (21)
Rebounds:  Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) (9), Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) (8), Warden (8)
Assists: Jaylin Gibson (Evanston,IL/Evanston Township) (3)
Steals: Cem Kirciman (Istanbul, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) (2)
Blocks: Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) (2)

GAME SUMMARY
Lewis jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first 4:20 to start the contest capped off by a three-point play by Warden. Parkside responded with a 5-2 run to cut it down to 12-5. 

Later in the first half, Renfro hit a layup with 9:34 left in the first half to put the Flyers ahead 20-12. The Rangers responded with 10 unanswered in two plus minutes to grab their first lead of the contest at 22-20.

Renfro was able to quickly tie it for the Flyers until Parkside scored the next seven points. Anthony Sayles Jr. (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) was able to knock down a pair at the line to make it 27-24 at the break. Lewis was held without a field goal for the last six minutes of the first half.

The Flyers went on an 8-1 run to start the second half including six points from Warden which gave Lewis a 32-28 advantage with 16:38 to play. Both teams went back and forth until Parkside led 38-36 at the 13:55 mark.

That was the last time the Rangers led as Lewis scored 10 straight in three minutes after baskets from Kirciman and Warden then three's from Stroud and Warden which made it 46-38 with under 11 minutes to play. Lewis led 49-43 with 9:48 play then both teams did not score for three and a half minutes. 

Warden ended the drought with 6:06 left then another two minutes went by without a bucket when Parkside scored and an one to make it 51-46 Flyers with 4:08 in the contest. Lewis was able to hold off any late rally by the Rangers the rest of the way.

Stroud hit a layup which gave the Flyers a 57-50 advantage with two minutes left. Parkside knocked down a triple to cut it down to 57-53 with under a minute remaining.

Lewis was able to knock down free throws and closed out the contest and won 62-56.

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Friday, January 3, 2025 as the Flyers host its Great Lakes Valley Conference home opener against Maryville starting at 7:30 p.m. CT.