JOLIET, Ill. - NCAA Division II Lewis jumped out to a commanding first-half lead and extended University of St. Francis' losing streak to eight games with a 68-39 win over the Saints at the Recreation Center.

The Flyers' size and depth was too much for the cold-shooting Saints who were held scoreless for the game's first 18:15. The Saints (1-8) missed a pair of free throws in the game's first 30 seconds and then could not get the lid off the basket, hitting just 1-of-29 first-half field goal attempts.

The Saints, though, did not quit despite the trials and tribulations of the opening half.

The Saints came out in the second half and outscored Lewis, 37-32, and hit 16-of-34 shots from the floor for a respectable .471 shooting percentage in the final 20 minutes.

The Flyers (4-1) shot .468 (29-of-62) from the floor for the game but were just as cold as USF from 3-point range. Lewis hit 4-of-17 treys (.235) while the Saints managed to connect on only 4-of-22 (.182). Lewis outrebounded USF but only by a slim 44-39 margin.

Reserve guards Robbie Butcher (Stagg H.S./Orland Park, IL) and Ryan Gunderson (Ottawa H.S./Ottawa, IL) led St. Francis with 11 and 10 points, respectively with each scoring all of his points in the second half. That duo also accounted for all four of the Saints' 3-pointers as each had two on the game.

Senior guard Tristan Therkield (Richards H.S./Oak Lawn, IL) finished with 6 points and no other Saint had more than four.

Sophomore guard Derek Ciezczak (Stagg H.S./Hickory Hills, IL) and Therkield shared the USF rebounding lead with a half dozen apiece.

The game was USF's first at home since a season-opening win over Calumet College of St. Joseph (IN) back on Nov. 4. It also marked the beginning of a four-game homestand over an eight-day period. The Saints entertain Trinity International on Tuesday, Purdue Calumet (IN) on Friday and Judson on Saturday. All three games are set for 7:30 p.m. starts at the Recreation Center.