ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis men's basketball team topped the 90 point mark for the third straight game but it wasn't enough as William Jewell outscored them 14-5 over the final 5:45 to hand the Flyers (12-4, 4-3 GLVC) a 96-92 defeat on Thursday night at Neil Carey Arena.

The Cardinals (9-11, 3-5 GLVC) were playing without their leading scorer Keith Hayes who was injured but Pharroh Gordon picked up the slack scoring a career-high 45 points on 17-of-23 shooting and had 12 rebounds. Joining him in double figures was Eysan Wiley with 17 points while Nick Bradley and Byron Harp added 13 points apiece.

Lewis was led in scoring by Adam Pischke (Cary, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) who finished with a season-high 27 points to lead four Flyers in double figures. Kendale McCullum (Elgin, Ill./Elgin Larkin) finished with 22 while Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) added 21 and Jake Reinhart (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic) dropped in 11.

Lewis led 87-82 with 6:39 left in the contest after a three-pointer from Pischke. Gordon cut the lead to three with a pair of free throws after he was fouled by Donovan Oliver (Kewanee, Ill./Kewanee). The Cardinals crept to within one on an offensive rebound and putback from Jackson Golightly with 5:05 left.

The Flyers had a chance to extend their lead but McCullum missed a three and Anthony D'Avanzo (Harwood Heights, Ill./Notre Dame) fouled Gordon going for the rebound. Gordon hit 1-of-2 to tie the game at 87. Blaylock had a chance to put Lewis back in front but his three-point attempt was off the mark and Gordon got the rebound.

Wiley but Jewell back in front with a layup off an assist from Nick Bradley. Pischke had a chance to tie the game but couldn't finish the layup and Wiley got the rebound. Gordon put the Cardinals ahead by four with a layup with 3:24 remaining.

McCullum answered on the other end with a jumper 0:10 later to cut the deficit in half. Blaylock put the Flyers back in front hitting a three-pointer with 1:45 to go with an assist from Oliver.

Lewis had no answer for Gordon though as he scored with 1:00 to play to put Jewell back in front for good. Reinhart missed a three with 0:36 left as Gordon got the rebound.

Lewis fouled Wiley with 0:18 left who hit 1-of-2 at the line to make it 94-92. Pischke missed a jumper from the left side of the lane but Oliver got the rebound. His putback attempt was blocked from behind by Gordon and Carter Olson got the rebound. Olson was fouled with 1.9 seconds left and hit both free throws to secure the win.

The Flyers finished the game shooting 45.5 percent (35-for-77) from the floor, were 12-of-30 from three and 10-for-10 at the foul line. They outrebounded Jewell 40-to-34 but gave up 20 points in transition.

The Cardinals shot 51.5 percent (35-of-68) from the field, were 8-for-19 from three and shot 86 percent at the foul line. They outscored Lewis 54-to-28 in points in the pain.

The Flyers are back in action on Saturday afternoon hosting Rockhurst at 3 p.m. Saturday's game is also Alumni Day at Lewis and the inaugural class of the Lewis Academy of Coaches will be honored at halftime.