Nov. 15, 2009

Box Score

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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Freshman Troy Peter (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore/Western Michigan) scored 17 points off the bench to help Lewis to a 65-60 season opening victory over in-region foe Ferris State on Sunday evening at Neil Carey Arena.

Lewis led 32-30 at the break and matched their largest lead of the game with 12:41 left in the second on a Peter layup. Six straight Ferris State points gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead and set up a back-and forth final 10 minutes. It appeared Lewis was putting the game away with Peter delivered a steal on the defensive end and connected on a 3-pointer with 3:43 left to put Lewis up by five. However an 8-1 run by the Bulldogs put Lewis behind by two.

Junior Dennis Thomas (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) went hard to the basket and drew the foul to earn two shots at the charity stripe. He made both and the game was tied at 58 with 1:43 left. Thomas then gave Lewis the lead for good on a fast break layup with 25 second on the clock. A pair of Peter free throws helped ice the season opening win for Lewis.

"It wasn't always pretty but we'll take a win over a team that was picked to finish second in their division," head coach Scott Trost said. "We're a young team and we hung in there and found a way. Troy was huge off the bench and Strus gave us his normal game."

Strus pitched in 15 points and eight boards with four blocks. Sophomore Chris McClellan (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling), sophomore Matt Toth (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Thomas all had 11 points.

Lewis finished 38.3 percent from the floor (23-60) while Ferris State shot 34.4 percent (21-61).

Ferris State falls to 0-1 while Lewis is 1-0. The Flyers play Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 8 p.m.