Box Score   / Bellarmine Box Score (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - The No. 19 Lewis University men's basketball team scored 22 of the game's first 24 points, as the Flyers led from start to finish in the 76-68 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over No. 7 Bellarmine at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon.

Lewis junior guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) led all scorers with a game-high 23 points and three trifectas, followed by 19 points, six assists and six rebounds from junior point guard Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton). Flyer junior forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and senior guard Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) each contributed 12 points apiece in the victory.

Jarosz (6 points, 3 assists) and Valla (6 points, 2 three-pointers) proved to be the catalysts for the Flyers in the opening eight minutes, as they combined for 12 of the 22 points during the run.

The Knights, who entered Saturday's contest averaging 83.9 points-per-game, were held to 18 points in the first half and shot 22.2% (6-for-27) from the field, as Lewis took a 39-18 lead into halftime.

With the win, Lewis improves to 15-2 on the campaign and 7-2 in conference action, while the visiting Knights drop to 13-4 overall and 5-4 in GLVC play. The win snaps a nine-game losing streak to the Knights, dating back to January 31, 2009.

Bellarmine guard Vance Hall topped the Knights with 13 points, followed by 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Donnie Hale and Josh Derksen. Bellarmine's leading scorers Keisten Jones (16.3 ppg.) and Jake Thelen (15.6 ppg.) were held to a combined 12 points on the afternoon.

With Lewis in control for the majority of the contest, Bellarmine was forced to foul in the second half. Lewis was sent to the charity stripe 34 times in the final stanza and converted 25. The Flyers went to the line so many times in the second half, they only attempted 12 field goals over the final 20 minutes.

For the game, the Flyers made 73.8% (31-for-42) of their attempts and their 42 free throws were a season-high. Lewis shot 50.0% (19-for-38) from the field, while the Knights shot 38.3% (23-for-60).

Bellarmine did make a late run in the second half, as they drew within four at 70-66 with 20 seconds left following a three-pointer by forward George Suggs (5 points). The Flyers, however, hit all six of their free throw attempts in the waning seconds to preserve the victory.

"We were resilient, persevered and hung in there," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "We found a way to win against a really good team and we made free throws when we needed to."

Lewis returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 30), as they will head east to square off with Indianapolis for a 7:45 PM ET tip-off.