DANVILLE, Ill. – The Johnson County men's basketball team used a second-half surge behind starters Ryan Gordon, Tymer Jackson and Desi Williams to rally from 14 down for a 77-76 victory over Iowa Lakes to advance in the consolation bracket at the NJCAA D-II Tournament in Danville, Ill. 

 The three sophomores tallied 43 of the team's 51 second half points, and 63 of the team's 77-point game total. 

Gordon finished with 26 points tying the second-best game by a JCCC player in tournament play. He hit 6-of-15 shots with two 3-pointers and was 12-for-13 at the free throw line. Gordon also had eight rebounds and three steals. 

Jackson followed with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, and two free throws. His five treys tie the third most made in a game in team history.  Williams contributed 14 points going 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line, with his final two coming with 12 second left to put the Cavaliers up 77-73. 

The difference in the game came at the free throw line. Johnson County was 20-for-30 while the Lakers only had five attempts, making two. 

The Cavaliers opened the game with a 12-0 run, only to watch the Lakers follow with a 14-2 run to tie the score. Later in the half Iowa Lakes mounted a 17-0 run erasing a three-point lead for JCCC at 19-16 into a 14-point advantage at 33-19 with 4:20 to play in the half. They would go into the locker room up 40-26 at halftime.

Trailing by 15 with 10 minutes to play, the Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run to get back in the game, and with 3.44 to play and down six, took the lead after a layup by Gordon, a jumper by Williams and 3-point backet by Jackson to go up 67-66. Johnson County never trailed again.

JCCC (27-8) will face No 9 seed Chesapeake on Friday morning at 9 a.m. CST.  Chesapeake (30-5)advanced by downing No. 16 seed Florida Gateway 85-79.

Watch the game on the NJCAA Network.