ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team was able to hold on and defeat McKendree 85-81 at Neil Carey Arena Sunday (Jan. 5). This marks Lewis' fifth straight win and was led by Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) and Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) who both recorded double-doubles and Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) recorded 26 points to lead all scorers.

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 9-3, 4-1 GLVC | McKendree 6-6, 3-2 GLVC
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. MCKENDREE
Points:  Warden (26), Renfro (22), Anthony Sayles Jr. (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) (14), Stroud (10)
Rebounds:  Renfro (16), Stroud (12)
Assists: Warden (6)
Steals: Warden (2)
Blocks: Jaylin Gibson (Evanston,IL/Evanston Township) (1)

GAME SUMMARY
McKendree led 9-8 early after making a trio of triples. Lewis went on a 8-2 run after a three-pointer by Warden gave the Flyers a 16-11 lead with 11:50 to play in the first half. 

The Bearcats cut it to 21-19 in favor of the Flyers before Warden knocked down a pair behind the arc to extend Lewis' lead to 27-19. MCK scored five straight to cut it back to three (27-24) with five minutes left before the break.

Renfro shifted momentum over to the Lewis side after converting on a huge three-point making it 30-24.  Sayles Jr. made a clutch three-pointer with 10 seconds left before halftime to give the Flyers a double-digit lead at 44-34.

Warden converted on an and-one with 17:24 remaining to extend the Lewis lead to 51-37. Renfro also picked up a three-point play making it 56-42 at the 15:50 mark.

McKendree fought back and scored nine unanswered the next four minutes to make it 56-51 Lewis. Sayles Jr. responded with a three-pointer making it 59-51 with 12:30 in the contest. 

The Bearcats cut it down to two (63-61) with a 10-2 run in the next four minutes. Moments later, McKendree ended up taking the lead at 70-69 with 5:59 remaining in the game.

Lewis bounced back and got a basket from Renfro and a three-pointer by Warden made it 74-70 in favor of the Flyers. Moments later, back-to-back layups from Stroud and Renfro put the game away for Lewis putting them ahead 80-73 at the 3:15 mark.

McKendree had one last fight as the Bearcats cut it down to 82-78 with 1:17 remaining in the game. Lewis was able able to hold off MCK won 85-81.

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Thursday, January 9 as the Flyers wrap up a three-game homestand against Upper Iowa starting at 7:30 p.m. CT.