Bears best Lancers in Hoops for Hope
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team was held to a season-low output in a 69-52 defeat to Shawnee State on Saturday.
The game wrapped up Grace’s annual Terry Polston Hoops for Hope, which raised thousands of dollars every year for cancer care in Kosciusko County.
Jaret Sons was the lone Lancer to score in double figures, netting 10 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Lancers (4-3) shot 32 percent from the floor as a team, including 8-of-29 (28 percent) on 3-pointers. Grace was also outrebounded 46-27 by the NAIA Div. I Bears (7-2).
The game started evenly as both teams played stifling defense in a halfcourt battle. Hank Smith came off the bench to give Grace a spark, hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
Smith’s second triple tied the score at 25-25 with 6:50 remaining in the half. But the Bears’ defense took control at that point.
Shawnee State held Grace to just one more basket over the final 6:49 — a triple by Haden Deaton.
As a result, the Bears ended the half on a 13-3 run to lead 38-28 at halftime. Grace was held to 36 percent shooting in the half compared to 52 percent for Shawnee State. Sons scored eight points before halftime to lead Grace.
Shawnee State’s defense was even tighter in the second half. The Bears refused to let Grace make a run, and the Lancers trailed by double digits for the entirety of the half.
Grace made 28 percent of its attempts after halftime and 14 percent from beyond the arc.
The Lancers did hold Shawnee State to 16 points below their season scoring average of 85 points per game.
Charlie Warner produced nine points to go along with two steals, and Smith and Cody Holmes scored five points off the bench.
At the conclusion of the game, Deaton was named to the All-Tournament Team. Sons was named the Charles Hollar Mental Attitude honoree for the weekend.
Next up, Grace will open Crossroads League play. The Lancers host Goshen on Nov. 26 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.