Lancers MBB flex offensive muscles over USF
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team employed a dominant attack to beat St. Francis 92-89 on Wednesday.
The Lancers (13-14, 3-12 Crossroads League) shot 57 percent as a team, including a 62 percent performance in the first half.
Charlie Warner was the epitome of efficiency; he scored a team-high 20 points on just 11 shots, making 8-of-11 from the floor.
Grace never trailed in Wednesday’s game. Eddie Gill IV scored on the first play of the contest, and the Lancers wasted little time ringing up points.
Five players scored for the Lancers in the first six minutes, and a bucket by Jaret Sons put Grace on top 17-8.
Although Grace opened up a 10-point lead, the Cougars (13-14, 6-9 CL) clawed back to within four at 32-28 with six minutes remaining in the half.
But over the next four minutes, Grace seized control of the game. The Lancers went on a 15-2 run, keyed by eight points by Warner.
Haden Deaton scored the last points of Grace’s run, which put the Lancers on top 47-30.
Grace went into halftime with a commanding 54-38 cushion thanks to 14 points from Warner and 12 from Logan Godfrey.
In the second half, Grace maintained its double-digit advantage for the first 11 minutes. But the Cougars had one final push remaining.
After a pair of free throws from Deaton, Grace led 86-76 with 4:39 left in the game. USF proceeded to score six straight points in less than two minutes, whittling the Lancers’ lead down to four with 2:47 remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Godfrey scored in the paint for a much-needed bucket. But the Cougars quickly scored five points in a row to shrink Grace’s lead down to 88-87 with 1:23 on the clock.
Godfrey again came up with a clutch play, assisting Deaton for a shot in the paint. The Cougars scored in response and got the ball back with a chance to win the game.
But the Lancers’ defense stood firm, surviving two potential go-ahead shots by USF until Gill grabbed the rebound and was fouled with less than a second remaining.
Gill calmly sank both free throws, and a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer by USF was no good.
Gill recorded a career high in points during Grace’s win. He finished the game with 17 points, making 9-of-9 from the free throw line.
Deaton tallied 17 points, and Godfrey added 16 points, 4 boards and 3 assists.
Braxton Linville scored eight points with six rebounds, and Martin Schiele and Tyce Frank each added five points.
The Lancers are back home on Saturday. Grace hosts No. 11 Marian at 3 p.m. in the second part of a Crossroads League doubleheader at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
