EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. - Anthony Jones hit six three-pointers as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville opened the Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball season with a 79-68 triumph over Lewis University.
         SIUE, 3-2 overall and 1-0 in GLVC play, led from start to finish over the defending GLVC champions. The Cougars, which ended last season's conference play with a win over Lewis as well, finished with four players in double figures led by Jones' effort.
         Jones was 6 of 7 from three-point range and hit all four of his free throws down the stretch. Dan Heimos finished with a career-high 15 points and team-leading seven rebounds. Joel Jaye tossed in 15 points for the Cougars, and Tim Bauersachs added 12.
         SIUE led at halftime 35-28 as Jaye scored 11 of his points in the first frame. The Cougars shot nearly 54 percent in the first half and turned it up a notch in the second half by shooting 63 percent from the field and hitting 11 of 12 free throws.
         Randy Wright led all scorers with 23 points for the Flyers, which suffered its first overall loss in three games this season and first conference loss.
         The Cougars are idle on Sunday as the rest of the GLVC meets for their second contest of the season. SIUE's next action is Tuesday when Missouri-Rolla invades the Vadalabene Center at 7:30 p.m. Missouri-Rolla joins the GLVC next season.
                  -siue cougars-