Grace’s rally comes up empty
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team made a valiant comeback bid on Tuesday against No. 23 Spring Arbor, falling short 76-73 at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The Lancers (8-2, 0-2 Crossroads League) had multiple chances in the final minute to tie the game, but Grace came up empty each time.
Logan Godfrey had a dominant game in defeat, racking up 30 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists which led all players in those categories.
But no other player for Grace was able to score more than 10 points; a balanced attack from the Cougars (10-1, 2-0 CL) led SAU to a road win.
The Lancers, who trailed for most of regulation, got off to a fast start. Godfrey scored eight points in the first three minutes, putting Grace on top 8-4.
But SAU responded quickly, going on an 8-2 run to erase Grace’s lead. The Cougars never trailed the rest of the game, but Grace refused to let SAU run away with the victory.
The Cougars shot 57 percent from the floor in the first half to keep the Lancers at a distance. SAU ended the half with a buzzer-beating jump shot to lead 48-38 as the teams went into halftime. Godfrey accounted for 15 of Grace’s 38 points in the half.
Grace still faced a double-digit lead, trailing 62-52 with 10:05 left in the contest.
Jaret Sons helped spark Grace’s offense with back-to-back 3-pointers, and Godfrey followed up with a triple of his own.
The Lancers patiently chipped away at SAU’s cushion in the second half, never allowing the lead to grow beyond 11.
With just over a minute remaining, Braxton Linville made a steal and converted a fastbreak layup to make the score 72-70.
The Cougars misfired on their next possession, giving Grace a chance to tie the game. Godfrey just missed on his reverse layup, however.
SAU hit a pair of free throws, and Sons responded with a basket to trim the lead down to two again with 20 seconds left.
Eddie Gill IV then made a tremendous defensive play on the ensuing inbounds pass from SAU, forcing a turnover by the Cougars and handing Grace another chance to tie.
This time, the Lancers found Charlie Warner on the left wing, but Warner’s deep 2-pointer rimmed out, and Godfrey was whistled for a foul on the rebound.
Grace had one more chance in the waning seconds, but the Lancers were unable to get off a desperation 3-pointer before time expired.
Sons produced 10 boards and seven rebounds, and Linville added 10 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Gill scored six points off the bench, and Martin Schiele added five more, but no other points were scored from Grace’s non-starters.
The Lancers face their third straight ranked opponent on Saturday. Grace will host rival Bethel on Saturday in a doubleheader with the women’s teams. The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m. at the MOCC with the men’s game to follow at 3 p.m.