No. 24 Cougars oust Grace from league tourney
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Grace’s run in the Crossroads League Tournament for men’s basketball was cut short after a 90-74 defeat at No. 24 St. Francis on Wednesday.
Grace struggled to keep the Cougars’ efficient offense in check. The Cougars (23-7) shot 56 percent from the field overall, 38 percent on 3-pointers and 86 percent on free throws. USF also committed just six turnovers.
Grace scored six of the first eight points in the contest, but the Lancers’ lead was short lived. The Cougars quickly tied the game at 8-8 and then surged ahead.
Midway into the first half, Grace trailed by 10. With four minutes to go in the half, the Cougars led by 15.
Frankie Davidson tried to get Grace going with five straight points, and Jakob Gibbs ended the half with an and-1, but the Lancers still trailed 48-37 at halftime.
The Cougars shot well in the first half, making 59 percent of their field goals. Grace made 47 percent of its attempts.
Frankie Davidson tallied 11 points in the first half to lead Grace, and he also added five rebounds and three assists which paced the team.
The Lancers (17-11) did their best to rally in the second half. But each time Grace made a comeback, USF had a response.
Grace cut the Cougars’ lead to five on three occasions in the opening minutes of the second half. The Cougars refused to let their lead diminish any further, however.
With 13 minutes to play, USF had reopened a 12-point lead at 64-52. Grace had one more charge left.
Haden Deaton scored in the paint, pulling the Lancers to within six at 70-64 with 6:56 on the clock.
The Cougars countered with a pair of 3-pointers, quickly reestablishing a double-digit lead.
Grace did not make a field goal for the final 4:30 of the contest, allowing the Cougars to gradually pull away for the victory. USF ended the game on a 20-10 run.
Gibbs finished with a team-high 18 points after making 8 of 9 from the foul line, and Deaton added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Eddie Gill IV finished with 12 points and two blocked shots, and Davidson added 11 points, 7 boards and 5 assists.
The Lancers’ postseason is not finished, however. Grace will await a potential NAIA bid or will accept a spot in the 2021 NCCAA National Championships, hosted by Grace beginning March 17.
