Lancers speed by Trailblazers
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team flexed its offensive muscles in a 24-point win over Ohio Christian on Monday.
The Lancers (3-1) placed five players in double figures in a 90-66 victory at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Matt Jennings scored 20 points to lead all players, adding four rebounds and two steals, and Logan Godfrey and Erik Bowen each had a double-double.
Stephen Halstead got Grace off to an early lead on Monday. He buried three 3-pointers in the first four minutes, adding a driving layup later for 11 early points.
But the Trailblazers (1-3) kept pace with four triples of their own and found themselves tied 28-28 with 4:44 remaining.
Grace made a late surge in the half and never trailed again. Godfrey scored four quick points, and Jennings ended the half with six more points to put the Lancers ahead 42-34.
Grace kicked off the half with a 14-5 run to surge ahead 56-39 thanks to six points from Bowen and five from Haden Deaton.
The Trailblazers clawed back and managed to trim Grace’s cushion down to single digits at 61-52 with 10:59 remaining. Martin Schiele responded with an acrobatic layup, and Halstead then hit two free throws. OCU trailed by at least 13 points for the rest of the contest.
For the game, Grace demonstrated strong ball movement. The Lancers racked up 17 assists with only six turnovers; Braxton Linville was responsible for nine dimes to lead all players.
The Lancers also dominated the glass, outrebounding OCU 45-30, and Grace turned 19 offensive boards into 29 second-chance points.
Jennings’s 20 points came in 26 minutes, adding four rebounds and two steals. Godfrey stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 13 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks, and Bowen added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Halstead scored 19 points by shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Deaton posted 13 points, 7 boards and 3 assists.
The Lancers’ bench, led by Jennings and Bowen, poured in 40 points. Martin Schiele also chipped in five points.
Grace ends the week on the road, playing at No. 21 Rochester on Friday and at Madonna on Saturday.