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Romeoville, Ill. - The Lewis University men's basketball team went from heartbroken to heartbreakers in a matter of days, as the Flyers rallied from a seven-point deficit with less than a minute - highlighted by a game-winning lay-up by junior guard Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) - to earn the 85-84 regional victory over Saginaw Valley State at Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (Nov. 21) night.

Lewis was on the verge of victory against Ferris State on Wednesday night, before the Bulldogs hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to force overtime and emerge victorious.

"I'm really proud of our guys," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "The last 72 hours have been tough on everybody, but I told our guys that character gets revealed in situations like that.

"I knew our guys would come out and fight," Trost continued. "They grinded, it wasn't always pretty, but they never quit and found a way to win against a really good Saginaw team."

Simelton finished with 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and a game-high five assists, while freshman wing Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) notched 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Flyers also received double-doubles from sophomore forward Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) and senior center Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North). Strus had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Nelson collected 21 points and 10 caroms.

With the win, Lewis improves to 3-1 on the season, while the visiting Cardinals fall to 1-2.

SVSU senior guard Damon Bozeman topped the Cardinals with 20 points, including five three-pointers, while junior forward C.J. Turnage added 18 points and seven rebounds. Cardinal guard Mitchell Baenziger posted 14 points, including four three-pointers, while junior guard Garrett Hall pitched in 10 tallies.

As a team, SVSU knocked down 12 three-pointers on 48% (12-for-25) shooting. It was their free throw shooting, however, that proved to be the Cardinals' downfall, as they missed five charity shots in the final 1:09 of the contest.

The first missed free throw came at the 1:09 mark, as Turnage failed to complete a three-point play with SVSU leading 80-73. Blaylock helped cut the Cardinals' lead to 80-75 with an eight-foot jumper with 56 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Flyers forced a Hall turnover on the ensuing possession and capitalized with a jumper from Simelton to bring Lewis to within three at 80-77 with 47 seconds left.

Lewis fouled immediately and sent Kellen Smith (5 points) to the free throw line with 43 seconds remaining. Smith split his charity tosses, as the Cardinals held on to a 81-77 lead.

That lead was cut to 81-80, as Lewis junior guard Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with 38 seconds left. That was Henshaw's only bucket of the evening.

Again, Lewis was forced to foul and sent Smith to the free throw line for two with 28 seconds left. Smith made both shots, extending SVSU's lead to 83-80.

Strus answered with a quick layup with 20 seconds left to cut SVSU's lead to 83-82. Lewis sent the Cardinals to the free throw line yet again, but Hall was only able to split his free throws as SVSU held a 84-82 advantage with 18 seconds remaining.

Simelton drew a foul on the Flyers' next possession, missed his first attempt, but made his second as SVSU led 84-83 with 12 ticks remaining on the clock.

Lewis fouled for the final time and Smith missed both of his free throw attempts with 10 seconds left, setting the stage for Simelton's heroics. Strus grabbed Smith's rebound, found Simelton who drove from the opposite free throw line and went coast to coast for the game-winning basket.

SVSU had one last attempt, but Baenziger's acrobatic lay-up attempt at the buzzer just missed, clinching the win for the Flyers.

As a team, Lewis shot 51.5% (35-for-68) from the field and held a 52-28 advantage over SVSU in points in the paint.

Lewis returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 24), as they head to Midland, Mich., for a 7 PM ET regional showdown with Northwood.