WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Playing in front of one of its largest crowds of the season, Grace’s men’s basketball team continued its undefeated season on Tuesday.
The No. 1 Lancers (12-0) pummeled Cornerstone 99-68 during Elementary Day at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The arena was filled with over a thousand elementary students from the Warsaw Community Schools and other area districts. The Lancers did not disappoint their home crowd, scoring at ease throughout Tuesday’s game.
Grace shot 56 percent from the floor for the game and 41 percent on 3-pointers. Elijah Malone dominated with 24 points (on 10 of 12 shooting from the floor), adding 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists in less than 24 minutes.
The MOCC crowd was electric from the tipoff, and Grace gave the fans no reason to stay quiet.
The Lancers scored the first 12 points of the contest and scored on seven straight possessions to begin the game. Malone converted a layup and a reverse dunk on the first two plays, then followed that up with a stepback jumper on the next possession.
A 3-pointer from Brycen Graber pushed Grace’s lead to 15-3, forcing an early timeout from the Golden Eagles.
Midway into the half, back-to-back triples from Carter Stoltzfus and Brett Sickafoose increased Grace’s lead to 15 at 33-17.
Ian Scott provided a steady flow of production off the bench. In 12 minutes, he almost had a double-double (12 points, 7 rebounds) to keep Grace’s offense rolling.
A 12-3 spurt with eight minutes left in the half allowed Grace to grab its first 20-point cushion of the game.
The half ended on yet another high note as Stoltzfus buried a 3-pointer with five seconds left, helping Grace to its largest lead of the half at 25.
Grace charged into halftime on top 54-29, shooting 62 percent from the floor. Cornerstone was held to 34 percent shooting, including just 3 of 12 from beyond the arc.
The Lancers steadily built on their advantage to begin the second half. Cade Gibbs and Malone hit 3s in short succession.
A few seconds later, the pair followed each other up again with back-to-back fastbreak dunks. Malone’s jam lifted the Lancers to a commanding 72-41 lead with 14:20 left in regulation.
Grace’s lead ballooned up to 36 (81-45) midway into the half as the Lancers began to empty their bench.
Eight players scored for Grace after halftime, and 14 Lancers saw the court over the final 20 minutes.
Grace coasted to the final 31-point margin of victory, just missing the century mark for points for the fourth time this season.
Malone and Scott combined for 39 points. Scott tallied 15 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot.
Jakob Gibbs had 10 points and four rebounds, and Cade Gibbs had seven points and two assists.
Brycen Graber tallied seven points with three steals, Stoltzfus had 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, and Sickafoose had 9 points, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Ian Raasch notched eight points with four rebounds, Jake Wadding finished with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, and Gage Sefton added 3 points, 3 boards and 1 assist.
The Lancers will take their 12-0 record to the end of the month. Grace’s next contest is Dec. 30 against Alice Lloyd.
The Dec. 30 game will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. The Lancers will tipoff after the Pacers versus Knicks game that evening with Grace’s estimated tip time set for 10 p.m.