Lancers soar past Eagles in home opener
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team eased by Judson 72-59 in its home opener on Friday.
The Lancers (1-1) used balanced production to win in the Lancer Tipoff Classic at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Logan Godfrey led Grace with 14 points and nine rebounds, including three spectacular dunks, and Jaret Sons scored 13 points with seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
Grace led from start to finish against the Eagles (2-2). Braxton Linville scored the opening basket of the game on Grace’s first possession, and the Lancers never surrendered the lead.
The Lancers scored eight unanswered points to start the game, but Judson clawed back to slice Grace’s cushion down to 14-13.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Matt Jennings and Jaret Sons gave Grace a nine-point edge, and the Lancers rode that momentum to a 40-33 halftime lead. Stephen Halstead hit a trio of 3-pointers for nine points, and Erik Bowen added eight in the half.
Early in the second half, Grace went on a 13-2 run to pull ahead 55-39. Godfrey and Martin Schiele each scored four points in that spurt, and the Lancers held a double-digit lead the rest of the game.
Grace head coach Jim Kessler substituted freely in the second half as all 12 healthy players saw time on the court, including the collegiate debut for Sam Miller.
Erik Bowen tallied a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with four points and four assists, Halstead had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and Linville had 7 points, 4 steals and 2 assists.
Schiele tacked on six points and two assists, Jennings scored seven points, and Haden Deaton added seven points and four boards.
The Lancers end the Lancer Tipoff Classic on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Governors State.