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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team, led by a game-high 17 points and four assists from senior guard
Chris McClellan (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling) (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling), used a stifling defensive performance to earn the 67-42 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over Saint Joseph's on 'Senior Night' at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Feb. 18) night.
Saint Joseph's was held to a 33.3% (18-for-54) shooting performance and only managed to get to the free throw line six times on the evening. The 42 points is the second-fewest points scored by a Flyer opponent this season, as Lewis held Wayne State to 41 tallies on December 31, 2011.
"I thought our defensive effort was great," Lewis head men's basketball coach
Scott Trost said. "I thought we really took (Saint Joseph's) out of their offense, especially in the first half."
With the victory, Lewis improves to 15-10 on the campaign and 7-10 in GLVC action, while the visiting Pumas are 8-17 on the season and 3-14 in conference play. The win clinches a berth in the GLVC Tournament for the Flyers and is Trost's 100th victory on the Lewis sidelines.
Joining in the 'Senior Night' fun with McClellan were classmates
Matt Toth (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and
Marty Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg). Toth finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while Strus grabbed a game-high 12 points. Fellow seniors
Lonnie Lawrence (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) and
Justin Jarosz (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) scored six and five points, respectively.
"I'm proud of our seniors because they've meant a lot to our program," Trost said. "I'm sad to see them go, but I know they've represented Lewis with class, and we're going to miss them."
Saint Joseph's junior guard Michael Lipton was 7-for-8 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from long range, to finish with a game-high 17 points for the Pumas.
Lewis returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 23), as they head north to square off with UW-Parkside for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
