First Half Turnovers Prove Costly As Lewis Men’s Hoops Falls To Wayne St., 79-66

Flyers turn ball over season-high 16 times, leading to 22 points for Wayne State.

Detroit, Mich. – The third time was not the charm for the Lewis University men’s basketball team, as their bid for their third consecutive come-from-behind win fell short, as Wayne State claimed the 79-66 in-region triumph over the visiting Flyers at the Matthaei Center on Thursday (Nov. 18) night.
  
In the final two games of the Disney West Coast Tip-Off classic, Lewis rallied from halftime deficits in both of their victories over Alaska-Anchorage and Dixie State.
  
Turnovers proved to be the difference, as the Flyers committed a season-high 16 miscues, 14 of which came in the first half, leading to 22 points for Wayne State.
  
“I thought we were poor defensively tonight,” Lewis head men’s basketball coach Scott Trost said. “In the first half we had 15 fouls and 14 turnovers, and you can’t turn the ball over when the defense isn’t playing well.
  
“I have to give Wayne State credit,” Trost continued. “They were the quicker team tonight and they shot the ball extremely well.”
  
Lewis senior guard Dennis Thomas, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) posted a team-season best 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including four three-pointers. Thomas now needs 27 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his career.
  
Junior forwards Matt Toth (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Jeron Lee (Chicago, Ill./Marshall/Southeastern C.C.) each scored 11 points for the Flyers in the loss.
  
With the win, Wayne State improves to 2-0 on the season, while the Flyers are now 2-2 on the campaign.
  
Wayne State senior guard Bryan Smothers led four Warriors in double-figures with 20 points, including four three-pointers. WSU’s Ike Udanoh and Mike Hollingsworth each scored 13 points for the Warriors, while forward Jerry Oden chipped in 12 points.
  
Wayne State enjoyed a sizeable advantage from the three-point line, as the Warriors knocked down 56.3% (9-for-16) of their three-point attempts, while Lewis converted 26.9% (7-for-26) of their long-range shots.
  
For the game, the Warriors shot 54.0% (27-for-50) from the field, while the Flyers drilled 40.3% (21-for-52) of their shots.
  
Lewis continues its trek through Michigan, as the Flyers battle Ferris State in an in-region showdown at 3 p.m. (EST).