Grace wins 13th straight
LAKELAND, Fla. – Grace’s men’s basketball team continued its winning ways with an 88-59 victory over Webber International on Monday.
The Lancers improved to 13-0 on the season, tying the program’s record for best start in a season. The only other Lancer squad to win its first 13 games was the 1991-92 team that won the NAIA Div. II national title.
Grace, the No. 13-ranked team in the NAIA, used a torrid finish to the first half to gain separation for good from the Warriors.
Frankie Davidson was a force. He shot 11 of 14 from the field, amassing 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot.
As a team Grace shot 58 percent from the floor compared to 36 percent shooting for WIU.
Grace began Monday’s game with a 10-4 run to force an early timeout by the Warriors. The break worked as WIU worked its way back into the contest.
With 8:30 remaining in the first half, the score was tied 19-19. But Grace ended the half on a furious charge, essentially icing the win before halftime.
The Lancers held WIU to just six points over the final 8:30, outscoring the Warriors 26-6 down the stretch to grab a commanding 45-25 lead at halftime. Cade Gibbs buried a pair of triples during Grace’s massive run.
Eight players scored for Grace in the first half. The Lancers made 60 percent of their field goal attempts before halftime while holding WIU to 34 percent.
The closest that Webber could get to Grace in the second half was 15 points (53-38, 13:11 remaining).
But Grace quickly ballooned its lead back up to 20, eventually pulling ahead by more than 30 late in the second half. The Lancers coasted to the final 29-point margin of victory.
Jake Wadding finished with 12 points and two rebounds, and Gibbs did not miss a shot for his 11 points.
Ian Scott tallied 11 points, 5 boards and 2 steals, and Brett Sickafoose scored eight off the bench.
Elijah Malone had seven points and six boards, Brycen Graber tallied 5 points, 2 assists and 2 steals, and Eddie Gill IV had 4 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.
The Lancers will take on another ranked opponent on Tuesday, playing Southeastern at 4 p.m. The Fire are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.