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Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University senior guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) posted a team-season high 25 points to help propel the host Flyers to the 86-79 regional victory over Northwood at Neil Carey Arena on Wednesday (Dec. 17) night after a 10-day layoff. 

Jackson was one of four players to score in double-figures for the Flyers. Senior forward Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and senior guard Gabe Williams (Chicago, Ill./Farragut) each posted 13 points, while freshman guard Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) added 11 points in the win. Both Lewis and Strus led the Flyers with seven rebounds.

WIth the win, Lewis improves to 7-1 on the campaign, while the visiting Timberwolves drop to 5-4 on the season.

Northwood junior guard Maurice Jones paced the Timberwolves with a team-best 19 points and a game-high eight rebounds and eight assists. Northwood junior guard Jermaine Myers collected 15 points, while senior forward Tony Johnson and Will Bowles each pitched in 11 points.

As a team, Lewis turned the ball over just seven times and forced 12 Northwood miscues that led to 17 points for the Flyers. Lewis shot over 50.0% for the sixth time this season, as they drained 56.6% (30-for-53) of their field goal attempts.

Lewis held the lead for a majority of the game, building a 69-52 lead with 9:06 remaining in the second half. Northwood responded with a 27-13 run - led by eight points from Myers - over the next 8:33 to cut the deficit to 82-79 with 33 ticks remaining on the clock.

The Flyers, however, were able to break the Northwood press on their next two possessions, highlighted by a pair of free throws from Williams and a game-ending dunk from Lewis to clinch the victory.

"Northwood has a nice team and they just wouldn't go away," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "I don't think we played great (tonight), but we grinded out a win.

"We laid off for 11 days and I think that showed tonight," Trost continued. "I don't think we came out with much urgency or energy and I thought we went through the motions.

"The good thing is that we grinded it out and got a win."

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 20), as the Flyers welcome local rival St. Francis (Ill.) to Neil Carey Arena for a 3 PM tip-off.