Box Score

Somers, Wis.- The UW-Parkside men's basketball team came up just short in Thursday night's finale, falling to Lewis University, 90-83. In a game that saw 12 lead changes and four ties, the Flyers were able to pull it out late on the Rangers' Senior Night. Sam Katula and Leneal Harris, the team's two seniors, were the leading scorers for Parkside. Katula finished one shy of his career high with 17 while Harris had 15 points and matched his career-high with seven assists.

The Rangers finish the season at 8-18 while the Flyers improved to 16-10. Parkside shot 54,9% for the game; the third highest total of the season and best in conference play. They were also 11-for-21 from the three-point line (52.4%); the highest percentage of the year and second-most makes. 

The Flyers countered with a 61.4% showing from the field including a 10-for-15 (66.7%) effort from the three-point line. They also got to the free throw line 35 times compared to 21 for the Rangers.

Katula got Parkside off to a blistering start knocking down three, three-pointers in the first five minutes. Conrad Krutwig hit one a little over two minutes later to give the home team an 18-11 lead with 13:19 left in the first half.

Lewis scored 10 of the next 13 points to even the score but the Rangers pushed back. An 11-3 run stretched the lead back to nine, the largest margin of the half.

Kevin Senechalle started it with a dunk and added a put-back lay-in moments later to go up 30-25. After a Ryan Jackson free throw, Javar Lawson knocked down a three-pointer for a seven-point cushion.

Lewis cut it back to five but two free throws by Jeremy Saffold and a Katula lay-up made it 37-28 with 4:07 left. They would take a 45-41 lead to the locker room as Jackson dropped in a three-pointer at the horn.

The Rangers were able to get the margin back to nine with 12:11 left in regulation on a three by Colt Grandstaff. The Flyers answered moments later with a 12-3 run to reclaim the lead for the first time since the early stages.

The lead changed hands seven times in the period in a back-and-forth finish. Harris gave Parkside a 71-70 advantage with 4:39 to go on a slashing lay-up over Lonnie Lawrence.

On the next possession, David Bryant knocked down a three-pointer and Julian Lewis followed with a lay-in to put the Flyers up four. Harris responded with a three-point play, then answered a Flyer basket with two free throws to keep the deficit at one.

But Jackson knocked down another three and the Rangers were unable to answer this time around. The Flyers went 10-for-10 at the foul line over the final 1:44 to seal the win.

Saffold joined the seniors and two others in double figures with 15 points. He will begin next season 16th on the all-time scoring list 1,038 career points. Senechalle and Grandstaff also reached double digits with 11 a piece. Krutwig pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

The Rangers finished the year with the nation's fifth toughest schedule according to the Massey Rankings. They played ten games against nationally-ranked opponents and 14 contests against teams in this week's Midwest Region rankings; including the Flyers who were ninth.