Lancers edged out by No. 6 MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace’s men’s basketball team suffered another narrow defeat, just missing a chance to upset the No. 6-ranked team in the NAIA.
The Lancers had a shot in the final seconds to send the game to overtime but ultimately fell 83-80 at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Saturday.
Grace and MVNU were practically even statistically. Each team had four players score in double figures, and they both made 30 field goals.
Logan Godfrey had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, and Haden Deaton and Jaret Sons each scored 18.
Grace started the contest with four straight points, including buckets by Charlie Warner and Godfrey. But MVNU quickly countered with a 14-1 run over the next four minutes to claim an early advantage.
The Cougars (20-4, 8-4 Crossroads League) were efficient offensively throughout the first half, shooting 47 percent with 10 assists on 15 made shots.
The Lancers (11-13, 1-11 CL) faced a 40-33 deficit at halftime as a result. Deaton (11 points) and Godfrey (10) accounted for 64 percent of Grace’s offense in the first half.
MVNU tried to bury Grace with an early flurry to start the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers from the Cougars put Grace behind 50-37.
But the Lancers refused to wilt. Grace went on an inspiring run over the next five minutes to grab the lead.
The Lancers went on a 22-4 run with nearly every player on the court contributing to the scoring. Braxton Linville started the run with a triple, and Sons hit three 3-pointers in the span of a minute.
A strong post move from Godfrey gave Grace a 58-56 lead with 12:54 remaining, the team’s first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
Warner followed that up with a 3-pointer to expand the Lancers’ lead to five.
The Cougars called timeout at that point, however, and quickly scored five straight to tie the game. After a Lancer missed shot, MVNU scored again to regain the lead 63-61.
The score teetered back and forth between the teams down the stretch. Deaton buried a 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining, and Godfrey later tied the game 78-78 with 1:42 on the clock.
MVNU scored in the post on the next play, and Grace proceeded to turn the ball over. The Lancers got the defensive stop they needed, but Grace was unable to secure the rebound and had to foul to extend the game.
After two MVNU free throws, Warner made a deep jump shot to trim MVNU’s lead down to two. The Cougars then missed the front-end of their bonus free throw, handing Grace a chance to tie or win the game in regulation.
The Lancers’ option at a 3-pointer was snuffed out, but Godfrey found space in the lane for a potential game-tying shot. Godfrey’s shot was blocked, however, allowing the Cougars to escape for a win in regulation.
Godfrey’s 20 points came on 8-of-12 shooting. Deaton had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and Sons tallied 18 points, 7 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Warner was the fourth Lancer to score in double figures, producing 14 points and three assists. Linville added 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Grace shot 50 percent from the floor, including 56 percent after halftime. Grace also had 10 assists and just two turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
The Lancers are back at home on Wednesday. Grace welcomes Goshen for an 8 p.m. clash, the second half of a doubleheader with the women’s teams.