Lancers Handle No. 3 IWU in Road Battle

MARION, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team passed a major road test on Saturday.

The No. 21 Lancers took down No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan 93-83 in a marquee NAIA Top 25 showdown.

Grace (6-2, 2-0 CL) has now won five straight games and sits tied atop the Crossroads League standings after two games.

The Lancers began the game with confidence, shredding the Wildcats' defense apart.

Grace scored four baskets at the rim almost immediately into the contest. A 3-pointer from Brycen Graber put the Lancers ahead 11-2.

Gage Sefton was a consistent source of offense in the half. He scored eight points over the first seven minutes to keep Grace's attack at a high level.

Midway into the half, Grace opened up its largest lead of the half. Justin DeGraaf canned a 3-pointer to put the Lancers ahead 30-17.

The Wildcats (6-2, 0-2 CL) slowly chipped away at Grace's cushion, however. IWU managed to tie the score at 38s in the final minute, but Sefton ended the half with a driving layup as Grace led 40-38 at halftime.

Grace shot 53 percent from the floor and outrebounded IWU by five. The Wildcats shot 41 percent from the floor but helped themselves with just two turnovers.

Sefton tallied 12 points before halftime, and Ian Scott amassed 8 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.

Two early turnovers from Grace allowed IWU to take its first lead of the game with 18 minutes to play.

The Lancers faced a five-point deficit and called timeout to steady themselves.

The break worked as Grace closed the gap and tied the score three minutes later. Three free throws from Brett Sickafoose put Grace back on top, and the Lancers never trailed again.

With nine minutes to go, Graber buried a pair of 3-pointers in less than a minute to push Grace on top 68-60.

DeGraaf followed up with another triple as Grace led by 11 and forced a Wildcat timeout.

The Lancers would not be slowed, however. After the timeout, Carter Stoltzfus promptly stole a pass and made a layup. A minute later, Ian Scott put the exclamation point on the game with a drive through the middle of the lane and a thunderous dunk.

Grace led by 17 at 81-64 with 5:03 remaining. The Wildcats did their best to scramble back, but the Lancers were never truly threatened.

The Lancers made five free throws over the final 44 seconds to lock up the win.

Scott was a force, amassing 20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 1 steal, all while shooting 7 of 9 from the floor.

Raasch made 8 of 13 for his 19 points, adding four boards and two steals.

Graber finished the game with 13 points and three assists, and Sefton tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.

Sickafoose scored eight points with a pair of steals, and Hunter Walston notched 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

DeGraaf (8 points, 3 rebounds) and Stoltzfus (4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists) were key contributors off the bench.

Grace shot 59 percent from the floor, 33 percent from the 3-point line and 91 percent (21-23) from the free throw line.

IWU shot 49 percent from the floor and committed 12 turnovers in the second half.

Next week, the Lancers return home on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. battle against IU Columbus.