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University Center, Mich. - Lewis University senior guards Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield), Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) and Gabe Williams (Chicago, Ill./Farragut) nearly outscored the Saginaw Valley State men's basketball team on their own, as the trio combined for 61 points on 19-for-25 shooting - and 7-for-10 shooting from three-point range - in the 83-62 regional victory over the host Cardinals at O'Neill Arena on Thursday (Nov. 20) night. 

Jackson scored 20 of his team-best 24 points in the first half on 7-for-8 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range. Jarosz added a season-best 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting - including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line - five assists and four steals. Williams collected a career-best in points scored for the second-straight game, tallying 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep.

"I thought (Ryan) Jack(son) was great in the first half and Jeff (Jarosz) controlled the tempo of the game," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "Gabe (Williams) is playing great and with supreme confidence."

With the victory, Lewis improves to 3-0, while the host Cardinals fall to 1-2 on the campaign.

As a team, Lewis shot 59.6% (28-for-47) from the field and a scorching 68.8% (11-for-16) from beyond the three-point arc. That was their best three-point shooting performance since they drained 69.2% (9-for-13) of their attempts in a 69-67 win over Indianapolis on February 26, 2011. Lewis senior forward David Niggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) drained three trifectas of his own to finish with nine points, while classmate Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) added a game-high 10 rebounds.

Trost lauded the defensive efforts of both Niggins and Lewis, as they held the reigning GLIAC North Division Player of the Week C.J. Turnage to 11 points. SVSU reserve guard Mitchell Baenziger drained six three pointers and hit all 10 of his free throws to finish with a game-high 28 points.

As a team, SVSU shot 40.9% (18-for-44) from the field and 37.0% (10-for-27) from three-point range. The Cardinals attempted just 17 field goal attempts from inside the three-point line. The Flyers forced 17 SVSU miscues, which led to 27 points for Lewis.

"This is a good overall win on the road against a quality opponent," Trost said. "I'm proud of our team effort defensively."

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 22), as they head to Big Rapids, Mich., for a 3 PM ET regional showdown with Ferris State.