Grace scores season-high 115 in victory

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The nonconference season for No. 4 Grace’s men’s basketball team ended in spectacular fashion on Friday.
The Lancers (14-1) blitzed Great Lakes Christian 115-67 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, putting six players in double-digit scoring.
Grace shot 67.6 percent from the floor, despite only making 6 of 20 (30 percent) on 3-pointers. Grace’s field goal percentage was the team’s highest in 14 years, bettered only by the program-record performance in 2008 against Indiana Tech (75.4 percent).
Additionally, Grace’s 37 assists were the most in a game during the modern era. Brycen Graber had 10 assists to lead all players.
The teams were even for the first five minutes of play. But Grace quickly grabbed control of the game with an 18-2 run.
Three straight layups from Jake Wadding, Jakob Gibbs and Ian Scott put the Lancers on top 21-10.
A few minutes later, Wadding dunked on back-to-back plays, and Brett Sickafoose followed that up with Grace’s only 3-pointer of the half.
The Lancers ended the half with another flurry; Grace outscored Great Lakes 21-8 over the final 7:20 of the half, including a buzzer-beating layup by Marcus Davidson to close out the half.
Grace went into halftime with a firm 52-28 lead. The Lancers made only 1 of 10 from beyond the arc, but Grace still shot 64.7 percent from the floor.
Grace had 17 assists with just six turnovers in the half. Overall, 40 of Grace’s 52 points in the half came in the paint.
Cade Gibbs nearly had a double-double before halftime with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Wadding made all five of his field goals for 12 points.
Elijah Malone and Cade Gibbs combined for eight quick points to begin the second half, and a dunk from Malone propelled Grace’s lead to 60-30.
A few more dunks from Frankie Davidson and a triple from Wadding gave the Lancers a 39-point edge with 14:44 to play.
Grace attacked with speed and efficiency, fast breaking with precision throughout the game. The Lancers’ pace wore out the Crusaders, resulting in a number of highlight reel dunks and finishes.
Grace had 10 dunks in the game, perhaps no better than Ian Scott’s offensive rebound, putback slam to put Grace on top 96-48. Scott had dunks on two straight plays.
Wadding scored in transition a minute later to eclipse the century mark with the score 101-52.
The Lancers were in cruise control until the end, winning by 48.
Wadding led all players with 18 points, shooting 7 of 8 from the floor. Cade Gibbs added 16 points, 11 boards and 3 assists, and Malone tallied 15 points, 6 boards, 3 blocks and 2 assists.
Davidson finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Scott had 14 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds, and Sickafoose notched 13 points with a trio of 3-pointers.
Jakob Gibbs notched 8 points, 2 assists and 2 steals, Marcus Davidson scored seven points with three boards, and Carter Stoltzfus had three points and five assists. Malachi Pearson (4 points) and Jaylen Reese (2 points, 2 assists) also contributed to the scoring.
Grace assisted on 37 of its 46 made field goals and had only 12 turnovers. Grace pounded out 78 points in the paint, had 61 bench points and 46 fastbreak points.
The Lancers now turn their attention fully to the Crossroads League. Grace will conclude the regular season with 13 consecutive league games.
The month of January is particularly grueling with six ranked contests during the month. Grace will host the first two ranked games next week, including No. 14 Marian on Wednesday (7 p.m.) and No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday (3 p.m.).