ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Two days after dropping its first game of the season, the top-ranked UIndy men's basketball team endured a 70-61 loss at Lewis University Saturday evening.  The Greyhounds (17-2, 9-2 GLVC) squandered a four-point lead at half to go 0-2 on the road trip.
 
UIndy finished with a season-low point total despite the fifth double-double of the season from Joe Lawson.   The hometown product amassed 13 points and 10 rebounds while fellow-senior Brennan McElroy had 13 and six.  Junior Jordan Loyd joined them in double figures with 10 points.  Senior Kendall Vieke and junior Lucas Barker eah had nine points, with Barker adding six assists and five boards.
 
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, but with the Flyers up 21-18, the Hounds surged ahead with 11 unanswered points.  The spurt was fueled by Vieke, who sank two 3-pointers during that stretch.  Lewis closed the half strong, however, cutting it to 31-27 UIndy at the break.
 
The Flyers (14-6, 6-5) fell behind by eight early in the second half after a McElory dunk made it 35-27, but the home team cashed in on its next eight possessions to orchestrate a 20-7 run and take a five-point edge.
 
"There were so many miscues on defense," UIndy head coach Stan Gouard said of his team after the game.  "I told our guys in the locker room that I don't know who we are any more.  The first 17 games, we prided ourselves on the defensive end and we didn't do that tonight.  We didn't do it tonight, and we didn't do it Thursday (against Wisconsin-Parkside).
 
Vieke's third 3-pointer of the game gave the Hounds a 51-47 advantage with eight minutes to go, but the Flyers' ensuing 8-0 run put them up for good.
 
Lewis would finish with a 57-percent shooting performance in the second half, while its 43 points in the final 20 minutes represented the most allowed in any half by the Greyhounds this season.
 
"Until we get back to guarding, we're not going to win very many basketball games," said Gouard.  "It's very disappointing to come on the road this week with a chance to win two basketball games against two great opponents and do what we did, especially in the second half tonight.
 
"But that's my job as their coach to get these guys back on track, and I guarantee you, practice is going to be a lot different going into next week."
 
The Greyhounds return for a pair of home games next week, hosting GLVC West-foes Missouri-St. Louis (Feb. 5) and Maryville (Feb. 7).  Tip time Thursday versus UMSL is set for 7:45 p.m.

Note:  Prior to Saturday, UIndy had not lost two in a row since March of 2013.