ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Lewis University men's basketball team reached the century mark as the Flyers defeated Upper Iowa 105-89 Thursday (Jan. 9).  Devon Vanderheydt (Washington, Ill./Washington) led the Flyers with a double-double after recording 24 points and 12 rebounds as six players reached double figures. 

HEAD COACH SCOTT TROST
"I thought we probably played our best all-around game of the year. Devon was outstanding. Tough to guard when you have six guys in double figures."

TEAM RECORDS
Lewis 10-3, 5-1 GLVC | Upper Iowa 9-5, 3-3 GLVC
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. UPPER IOWA
Points: Vanderheydt (24), Rob Stroud (Danville, Ill./Kankakee CC) (20), Ryan Renfro (Glen Ellyn, Ill./U.S. Military Prep) (18), Anthony Sayles Jr. (Evanston, Ill./Notre Dame Prep) (16), Paxton Warden (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) (13), Jaylin Gibson (Evanston,IL/Evanston Township) (12)
Rebounds: Vanderheydt (12)
Assists: Gibson (5)
Steals: Warden (3)
Blocks: None

GAME SUMMARY
Warden and Gibson started the contest with back-to-back buckets to make it 4-0 early. Upper Iowa got the next bucket and a three-pointer to make it 5-4 early on. 

Lewis bounced back and scored nine unanswered, which was capped off by a layup from Stroud to make it 13-5. UIU then went on a 6-2 run to cut it down to four (15-11) at the 13:16 mark in the first half. 

The Flyers then scored eight straight, including an and-one by Vanderheydt to make it 23-11 in favor of Lewis. Gibson knocked down a triple to make it 40-30 with 3:56 to play before UIU made it a five-point game with five in a row. 

Gibson knocked down a pair of free throws late to close out the first half. Lewis went up 44-37 at the break.

Lewis scored nine straight to open the second half including a three from Gibson and six points from Vanderheydt to make it 53-37. Moments later, the Flyers made it a 20-point game at 63-43 with 15:24 in the game after Renfro slammed it home. 

Moments later, Sayles extended it out to 78-53 with 11:57 remaining in the contest. The Peacocks made it as close as 15 (85-70) with 5:59 on the clock then made it 94-80 with 3:13 but that was the closest they made it. 

Lewis reached the century mark with back-to-back layups from Stroud and Renfro which made it 101-85. The Flyers ended up winning 105-89.
 
RAE STRONG NIGHT
Thursday nights game also acted as Rae Strong Night. The Rae Strong Foundation is a non-profit organization based in the Chicago land area whose goal is to support families dealing with premature born children. For more information, Watch this Video.

UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Thursday, January 16 as the Flyers travel to William Jewell to take on the Cardinals starting at 7:30 p.m. CT.