ROLLA, Mo. - The Lewis University men's basketball team was unable to come away with the victory against Missouri S&T as the Miners won 73-69 Saturday (Feb. 3).  

RECORDS
Missouri S&T 11-9 (5-8 GLVC) | Lewis 11-9 (7-5 GLVC)

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (20), Gary Solomon (Eastpointe, Mich.) (12), Cem Kirciman (Bursa, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) (11)
Rebounds: Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) (9)
Assists: Frericks (4)
Blocks: Four tied (1)
Steals: Three tied (1)

SUMMARY
Missouri S&T jumped out to an early 8-0 lead to start the game before Jamere Hill (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) recorded Lewis' first basket. The Miners then went on a 9-2 run to extend its lead out to 17-4.

Lewis responded with eight straight points including three buckets from Cem Kirciman (Bursa, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) which cut it down to 17-12. Both teams made two baskets each to make it 21-16 with 8:09 left in the first half. 

Missouri S&T answered and made a run to extend its lead out to 33-22 with 4:36 to go before the break. Lewis tried to respond the rest of the half but the Miners kept its double digit lead through halftime. 

Frericks tried to give the Flyers some momentum for the second half after knocking down the final shot of the first half with 40 seconds left. 

Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) started the second half with a basket to make it a 10-point game. The Miners led 52-41 with 11 minutes left, then Frericks recorded a pair of baskets before Marieon Anderson (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) slammed it home which made it 52-47 S&T. 

S&T scored the next basket before the Flyers recorded three straight buckets, two from Frericks and one from Anderson which made it 54-53 Miners with under eight minutes to play. 

A few minutes later, Solomon tied the game up for the first time after making a shot with 5:23 remaining in the contest. Solomon tied the game up again, at 61-61, after converting on an and-one with 4:04 on the clock. 

Unfortunately, that was closest the Flyers got as Missouri S&T went on an 8-1 run the next three minutes which gave it a 69-62 lead with under a minute to play.

Frericks tried one last push as he hit a pair of layups and Vanderheydt knocked down a triple to make it 71-69 S&T with 15 seconds left. The Miners were able to hold off the Flyers for the 73-69 victory. 

UP NEXT
The Lewis men's basketball team returns to action Thursday (Feb. 8) as the Flyers host Truman State starting at 7:30 p.m.