Grace grabs third straight victory
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team became the hottest team in the Crossroads League on Saturday with a 95-89 win over Goshen.
The Lancers (10-14, 3-9 CL) have won three games in a row, averaging 88.0 points per game in those victories.
Five players scored in double figures for Grace, led by 19 points and eight rebounds by Logan Godfrey. Erik Bowen was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 8-of-9 for 16 points, 5 boards and 3 assists, and Matt Jennings filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
Grace led the Maple Leafs (10-14, 3-9 CL) for most of Saturday’s game. The Lancers’ offense was lethally efficient in the first half, starting from the opening tip. Grace scored eight points in the first two minutes of action and continued its torrid pace throughout the half.
The Lancers picked up momentum midway into the half thanks to its outside shooting. Jaret Sons nailed 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions.
Shortly afterward, Stephen Halstead hit two triples of his own to give Grace a 37-27 lead with 6:58 remaining.
Sons ended the half by making a contested 3-pointer, his third of the half, in the waning seconds, and the Lancers led 53-41 at halftime.
Grace shot an incredible 70 percent from the floor in the first half, making 19-of-27 as a team. Grace was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and also outrebounded Goshen 23-12.
The Maple Leafs, who shot 44 percent in the half, forced Grace into 11 turnovers to stay within range of the Lancers.
Goshen refused to let Grace pull away in the second half. Although the Lancers never trailed in the half, the Maple Leafs kept pressure on Grace until the final buzzer.
Goshen trailed by two with seven minutes to play, and the score remained close for the next four minutes. Godfrey helped Grace gain separation with four straight points, followed by a layup from Haden Deaton to give Grace a 79-71 lead with 3:10 to play.
The Maple Leafs did their best to extend the game, sending Grace to the free throw line for much of the last two minutes. The Lancers in turn drained 12 foul shots down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Sons finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action, and Deaton ended with 10 points.
Braxton Linville racked up 7 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, Halstead chipped in seven points, and Charlie Warner did not miss a shot for his seven points.
The Lancers hit the road on Tuesday, playing Huntington at 7 p.m.