COLUMBIA, Ky. - Lindsey Wilson gave Grace’s men’s basketball team a battle on Tuesday night.
But in the end, the No. 1 Lancers maintained their unblemished season with a 79-65 victory, improving to 11-0 under head coach Scott Moore.
Cade Gibbs flourished with a season-high 29 points with six rebounds, leading Grace past the Blue Raiders (6-6). Gibbs’s offense was needed as the Lancers shot just 42 percent from the floor, the team’s second-lowest percentage of the season.
Grace’s offense was slow out of the gate, scoring four points across the first four minutes. The Lancers missed their first four 3-pointers to face a slight 11-8 deficit early in the game.
But two quick fastbreak buckets put Grace back in front, and a triple in transition from Jakob Gibbs handed Grace a 15-11 lead, forcing a timeout by LWC.
Jakob Gibbs swished another triple on the next play, and two free throws from Cade Gibbs capped off a 12-0 charge for Grace.
A few plays later, a 3-pointer from Carter Stoltzfus handed Grace a commanding 23-14 lead.
But Grace became sloppy with the ball, allowing LWC to climb back. Grace committed seven turnovers, resulting in 11 points for the Blue Raiders. A 7-0 spurt allowed LWC to tie the score at 28-28 with five minutes left in the half.
LWC continued its strong play, opening up a four-point edge on the back of a 14-3 run.
But the Lancers turned the tide with a strong finish to the half. Grace used a 9-2 run to grab a 40-37 lead at halftime. Cade Gibbs scored four during the spurt, and Brycen Graber hit a 3-pointer.
Grace held LWC from making a field goal for the final 3:50 of the half.
The Lancers shot just 43 percent from the floor, while LWC made 48 percent in the first half. Cade Gibbs (16 points) and Jakob Gibbs (8 points) powered Grace’s offense before halftime.
Elijah Malone gave Grace a boost to begin the half, scoring on Grace’s first two possessions. Free throws from Cade Gibbs and Jake Wadding pushed Grace’s cushion to 50-41.
Grace’s size and aggressiveness began to give LWC fits. The Lancers attacked the rim relentlessly with Cade Gibbs being a constant threat in the paint. Grace pushed its cushion to 59-46, seizing momentum in the contest.
While the Lancers never seemed to dial in their shooting touch, Grace’s hustle on loose balls and muscle on the interior allowed the visitors to build more separation.
Grace maintained a double-digit cushion for the final 7:42 of regulation, grinding out the 14-point victory.
The Blue Raiders were held to 39 percent shooting, including just 32 percent after halftime.
Cade Gibbs shot 10 of 20 from the floor and 9 of 10 from the free throw line for his game-high 29 points.
Malone pounded out 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 assists, and Jakob Gibbs added 11 points with a pair of 3s.
Graber tallied 8 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds, and Stoltzus had 4 points, 8 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Wadding notched 6 points, 5 boards, 2 steals and 1 block, Ian Scott had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal, and Ian Raasch scored three points off the bench.
The Lancers’ next game is at home on Dec. 19. Grace will host Cornerstone in an early doubleheader with the women. The women will tip off at 11 a.m. with the men to follow at 1 p.m.
Warsaw’s elementary schools are invited to the doubleheader free of charge; the crowd is expected to have well over 1,000 elementary students in attendance.