Lancers score 105 in season-opening win
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The 2018-19 season for Grace’s men’s basketball team started in exciting fashion.
The Lancers blasted Miami Hamilton 105-75 on Friday in the Lancer Tipoff Classic. Five players reached double-digit scoring, led by 19 points apiece from Haden Deaton and Charlie Warner.
Friday night was also memorable as it was “Clint Dawg Night” to honor Clint Johnson as the Lancers’ No. 1 fan. Commemorative posters and “Clint Dawg” bobbleheads were given out to those in attendance to celebrate Johnson.
Grace’s offense got off to a fast start in the home opener. The Lancers (1-0) quickly pulled ahead 20-8 after just 5:16 of action. Logan Godfrey scored six points in that spurt, and Warner added five.
The lead for Grace quickly blossomed to 20 by the midway point of the first half, and the Lancers led 56-38 at halftime.
Jaret Sons had the exclamation mark of the half. Braxton Linville deflected a pass then made a jumping, acrobatic pass across the court to Sons, and Sons threw down a fastbreak dunk to force a timeout by the Harriers (0-1).
Warner enjoyed a scoring spree in the first half. He poured in 17 points in 15 minutes of action, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and grabbing six rebounds.
Grace shot 50 percent in the first half and was 18-of-24 from the foul line. Eddie Gill IV and Noel Mpie scored their first collegiate points in the first half as well.
To start the second half, Logan Godfrey converted an and-1, and Jaret Sons hit a pair of triples. Grace immediately blew its lead up to 24 points.
The Harriers were unable to chip away at the Lancers’ lead; Miami Hamilton trailed by at least 20 for the rest of the contest.
Grace’s head coach Jim Kessler substituted liberally in the second half. The final starter for Grace left the game for good with 10 minutes remaining, and the Lancers’ lead continued to grow.
Overall 12 players registered a point for Grace. Warner’s 19 points came with eight rebounds, and Deaton’s 19 points came with four assists.
Sons and Godfrey both produced a double-double. Sons had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Godfrey added 14 points and 11 boards.
Martin Schiele erupted in the second half, ending the game with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Cody Holmes tallied seven points and eight boards in 16 minutes, Tim Swanson scored five points, and Tyce Frank added four.
The Lancers wrap up the season-opening tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Cincinnati Christian, who is coached by former Lancer All-American Greg Miller.