ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team was unable to come away with the victory as Missouri-St. Louis defeated the Flyers 74-70 to finish the regular season Saturday (March 2).

TEAM RECORDS
UMSL 13-15, 11-9 GLVC | Lewis 16-12, 12-8 GLVC

LEWIS LEADERS
Points: Cem Kirciman (Bursa, Turkey/Wisconsin-Green Bay) (18), Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) (14), Anthony Sayles Jr. (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) (14), Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill.) (11)
Rebounds: Kirciman (9)
Assists: Frericks (4)
Steals: Kirciman (3)

SUMMARY
Both teams each traded three baskets to start the game. Lewis went ahead 17-10 after the Flyers scored seven in a row with five points from Sayles and a jumper by Frericks.

Moments later, Lewis led 25-19 after a basket from Kirciman. UMSL closed out the first half with 10 unanswered points which gave the Tritons a 29-25 advantage. 

Back-to-back three pointers by Frericks early in the second half gave Lewis a 35-34 lead with 17:23 to play. UMSL responded the next three minutes which nine straight points to give the Tritons a 43-35 lead. 

Frericks ended the Lewis drought but the Tritons went up by 12 (51-39) with 12:15 to play in the game. Lewis then went on an 15-3 run the next five minutes to tie the game at 54-54.

Moments later, Marieon Anderson (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) gave Lewis a 60-59 lead with 5:22 left in the game. UMSL regained the lead at 65-64 with 3:09 left and never gave it up.

The Flyers had the chance to take the lead or tie it with seven seconds to go but Lewis turned the ball over and UMSL slammed it home for the 74-70 victory.

UP NEXT
Lewis looks to make some noise in the GLVC Tournament starting Friday (March 8) in St. Charles, Mo. As the No. 3 seed, the Flyers will face the No. 6 seed Illinois-Springfield at 8:15 p.m.