LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell men's basketball team took care of business in the Great Lakes Valley Conference quarterfinal, defeating seven-seed Upper Iowa 79-67. The Cardinals improve to 20-9 on the season and advance to the semifinal round. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first six minutes featured four ties and six lead changes before Upper Iowa hit back-to-back three pointers to take a five point lead. After more than three minutes scoreless by both squads, Cooper Francis came off the bench to spark the Cardinals, hitting three triples in the span of four minutes to put Jewell in front, 23-15. The Peacocks rallied, using a 17-5 run to go in front by four. Kanukayi Gudza's three in the final minute of the first half, made it 32-31 at the intermission, in favor of Upper Iowa.
• Bradley Lightbourne came out of the locker room and scored eight straight points to put Jewell back on top by seven before making it a double digit leader with a layup just under four minutes later. Upper Iowa cut the lead down to six with under 13 minutes to play but the Cardinals followed with a 19-2 run to open up a 13-point lead at 62-49. Jewell maintained the double digit advantage, leading by as many as 14 after a three from Gudza, as they cruised to the 79-67 win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Cardinals were led by Justice Sutton's 25 points and nine rebounds while Lightbourne added 21 and eight, respectively to go with four assists, two blocks, and two steals. 
• Francis scored a career high 13 off the bench while Gudza chipped in four assists and four steals. 
• Jewell shot 48% from the field, scoring 40 points in the paint, but were 10-of-32 from three. 
• The Cardinals forced Upper Iowa into 18 turnovers, leading to 27 points. 

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will return to action on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. to take on the winner of No. 3 Illinois Springfield versus No. 6 McKendree.