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Springfield, Ill. - Behind the strength of senior guards Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) and Gabe Williams (Chicago, Ill./Farragut), the Lewis University men's basketball team erased a nine-point second-half deficit and earned its seventh-straight win with the 83-78 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over Illinois Springfield at The Recreation & Athletics Center on Thursday (Feb. 19) night.

Jackson posted a team-season high 30 points, including 23 second-half points, and went 16-for-20 from the free throw line, tying a career-high. He also added six assists in the victory. Williams, who saw extensive minutes in the second half due to Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) foul trouble, scored 13 of his 15 points in the final stanza, including two three-pointers.

The Flyers also received 10 points and five rebounds apiece from junior forward Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) and freshman guard Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg).

"We just made some plays and some shots (tonight)," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "Gabe hit some huge baskets and Ryan was really good against their changing defenses.

"We made our free throws and did a better job attacking their zone (in the second half)," Trost continued. "We got stops when we needed to."

With the win, Lewis improves to 19-6 on the campaign and 11-5 in GLVC action, while the host Prairie Stars drop to 10-14 on the season and 4-12 in conference play.

UIS junior guard Jamall Millison notched a team-best 20 points, including five three-pointers, while junior guard JJ Cravatta drained four trifectas to finish with 14 points. The Prairie Stars also received 12 points from guard Mark Weems and 10 points from guard Davi Austin.

The Prairie Stars, who led for over 30 minutes in the contest, held their biggest lead of the game at 44-35 with 16:10 left, following a Cravatta trifecta.

The Flyers went on to make 14 of their next 19 shots, including four three-pointers, to take the lead for good at 73-70 following a Williams trifecta. WIlliams led the Flyers during that stretch with 12 points, while Jackson collected 11 tallies.

For the game, Lewis shot 55.1% (27-for-49) from the field, while UIS shot 50.0% (26-for-52). The Flyers, who had made just 11 of their first 19 free throws, bounced back and hit 13 of their next 15 charity shots. In all, Lewis knocked down 70.6% (24-for-34) of their attempts.

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 21), as the Flyers head to Lebanon, Ill., to meet McKendree for a 3 PM tip-off.