Lancers explode for 105 points in season debut
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team put on a show in their season opener on Friday night.
The Lancers thrilled the packed home crowd at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center as Grace beat Governors State 105-90.
Grace had six players score in double figures and 10 players score overall. The team shot a sizzling 59 percent overall from the floor and 50 percent on 3-pointers.
Friday’s game saw Grace jump out to a fast 10-3 start thanks to three points apiece from Gage Sefton and Hunter Walston.
The Jaguars countered with a 12-3 spurt to grab a slight 15-13 lead, but Grace scored the next six points and never trailed again.
The Lancers attacked the rim relentlessly as layups from Gavin Betten and Michael Wellman kept momentum firmly in Grace’s side.
Betten scored five points in less than 30 seconds, finished by an and-1 to push the Lancers’ lead to nine.
Ian Raasch collected six points over the final four minutes of the half, including an athletic dunk. Cole Hayworth also provided a spark with a triple and a fastbreak jam on two straight possessions.
Grace raced into halftime with a 51-38 advantage. The Lancers shot 61 percent from the floor in the half compared to 47 percent for the Jaguars. Raasch had 11 points to lead Grace, and 10 players overall registered a point for the Lancers.
To start the second half, Luke Bricker heated up the Lancers’ attack. He started with a midrange jumper. The freshman followed that up with a trio of 3-pointers in a two-minute span, erupting the home crowd and propelling Grace ahead by 17 (69-52).
Layups from Betten and Wellman were followed by another 3-pointer from Walston, and the Lancers seized their largest advantage of the game at 76-52 with 12 minutes to play.
The sides played evenly over the final 10 minutes of the half, and Grace’s deadly transition game kept GSU at arm’s length.
Tyler Raasch provided a late highlight reel over the closing seven minutes. The freshman scored nine points in less than two minutes. A layup was followed up by back-to-back dunks by Raasch, and he capped off his dazzling run with a 3-pointer at the top of the key.
Betten racked up 19 points (on 8 of 10 shooting) and 10 rebounds in his collegiate debut, adding three assists in 21 minutes of play.
Bricker scored 15 points with two assists, and Ian Raasch tallied 13 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 4 rebounds and 1 block.
Wellman collected 14 points and three boards, Tyler Raasch had 15 points with four boards, and Grady Carpenter amassed 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block with one turnover in his first game as Grace’s point guard.
Hayworth scored seven points on 3 of 3 shooting, Houser had 4 points, 5 assists and 2 steals, and Sefton added 3 points, 4 assists and 3 boards.
Ten players saw at least nine minutes of action for Grace in a balanced box score.
The Lancers had 28 assists on 38 made field goals. Grace outrebounded GSU by nine and racked up 61 bench points.
Grace’s next outing is at home again, hosting No. 19 Morningside on Oct. 31 in the Crossroads/GPAC Challenge. Grace will also host Huntington versus Briar Cliff at the conclusion of Grace’s contest.
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