Lancers muscle past Grace Bible in second half
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – A strong second half propelled Grace’s men’s basketball team past Grace Bible College on Friday night.
The Lancers (5-2) scored 49 second-half points en route to an 83-76 win at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The game was the finale of the first day of the Terry Polston Hoops for Hope Classic.
The Lancers end the tournament on Saturday by hosting Clarke at 4 p.m.
Logan Godfrey was nearly unstoppable for Grace. He led all players with 24 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 11-of-16 from the floor.
Godfrey made the first bucket of the game 19 seconds after the tipoff, but the first half largely belonged to the Tigers (4-4). Grace Bible led nearly the entire period thanks to eight turnovers by the Lancers.
The Lancers committed six turnovers in the first 11 minutes; as a result, the Tigers jumped out to a 26-17 lead. Grace rectified its control issues in the latter parts of the half, and the score began to tilt the Lancers’ favor.
Tim Swanson buried a late 3-pointer, and Erik Bowen scored four straight points to help the Lancers trail 37-34 at halftime.
In the second half, the game remained close until the Lancers made a game-changing run. The Tigers led 58-53 with 9:28 remaining, but Grace sprinted away with a 17-2 run.
Godfrey and Matt Jennings were the primary drivers during the run; Jennings scored eight points, including a 3-pointer as well as an and-1, and Godfrey scored seven. When the run ended, Grace held a commanding 70-60 lead.
The win was iced at the free throw line for the Lancers. Grace hit 10 free throws over the final 2:34.
Bowen scored 17 points with eight rebounds, and Jennings added 15 points, 4 assists and 2 steals in 21 minutes.
Haden Deaton tallied 12 points, Stephen Halstead had four points and four assists, and Braxton Linville led all players with five assists.