Lancers lock down Maple Leafs
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s men’s basketball team put the clamps on Goshen in a 77-61 victory on Saturday.
The Lancers (6-3, 1-2 Crossroads League) were especially tough defensively after halftime, limiting the Maple Leafs to just 29 points in the second half.
Matt Jennings scored the first four points of the game, and Grace stayed in front for the rest of the half.
Goshen implemented a zone defense, which slowed Grace’s usual pace of play.
A quick 6-0 spurt put the Lancers on top 25-15 midway into the first half. But the Maple Leafs were undaunted and kept the game close.
Goshen clawed back to within three as Grace led 35-32 at halftime.
Both teams shot well in the half with Grace at 47 percent and Goshen at 50 percent. Grace made just 1 of 6 on 3-pointers (17 percent) compared to 5 of 10 for the Maple Leafs.
Jennings’s 14 points led all players at intermission, and Haden Deaton added seven more.
Five minutes into the second half, Grace grabbed a nine-point lead after a triple from Jakob Gibbs.
But Goshen responded with a 10-2 run to trail by just one with 10 minutes remaining.
The Lancers refused to surrender the lead, however. Grace rattled off a 12-1 charge of its own, capped off with four points in a row from Jennings.
The Maple Leafs (3-10, 1-5 CL) did not have another comeback in store. Grace cruised to the final 16-point margin of victory.
Defensively, Grace held Goshen to just 32 percent shooting after halftime. The Lancers outscored the Maple Leafs 42-29 in the second half.
Grace shot 48 percent for the game while Goshen shot 41 percent. The Maple Leafs shot 41 percent on 3-pointers but turned the ball over 19 times.
Jennings earned scoring honors with 23 points, 4 assists and 4 steals. Deaton finished with 16 points, 5 boards and 3 steals.
Jake Wadding just missed a double-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, and Cade Gibbs added 6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Jakob Gibbs notched 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and Elijah Malone amassed 6 points, 6 boards, 4 blocks and 1 steal.
The Lancers will leave town this weekend to play a pair of games. On Monday Grace will play Cumberland (Tenn.) followed by Brescia (Ky.) on Tuesday.
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