KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Grace’s men’s basketball team kicked off the second Crossroads Cascade Classic with a resounding 97-59 win on Friday against Bushnell.
The Lancers (3-0) had 12 players score in the rout, led by 17 points from Jake Wadding and Gage Sefton.
Grace’s head coach Scott Moore collected an individual milestone during Friday’s win as well; Moore won his 100th contest and now owns an impressive 100-37 record in his fifth season in charge of the Lancers.
To begin Friday’s contest, Cade Gibbs had the hot hand early. Gibbs scored six points in a row to give Grace an early boost.
Midway into the half, Grace began to assert control. The Lancers rattled off 11 unanswered points; the run was bolstered by a pair of triples from Carter Stoltzfus and a dunk from Ian Scott.
Sefton kept Grace’s momentum rolling with an eruption of offense. The freshman went on a 10-0 run by himself with two 3s and two shots in the paint.
After Sefton’s explosion, Grace had doubled up Bushnell 36-18.
Wadding then took a turn scoring to end the half. He scored nine points over the final 4:17 of the half, leading the Lancers to a commanding 49-33 lead at halftime.
Grace shot the ball well in the half, making 50 percent of its attempts. The Beacons were muted to just 28 percent shooting.
Wadding led all players with 13 points at the break, and Sefton amassed 12 points in just eight minutes.
Elijah Malone quickly filled the scoring column in the second half, scoring nine points in the first seven minutes after halftime.
Malone and Cade Gibbs scored all 15 of Grace’s points to begin the second half.
The Lancers took out many of their starters less than eight minutes into the second half, but Grace’s bench continued to execute the rout.
Ian Raasch and Sefton converted and-1s on back-to-back plays.
Less than a minute later, Grace unleashed a barrage of triples. Stoltzfus, Raasch and Brett Sickafoose drilled 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions from the Lancers, and Grace ballooned its lead to 81-44.
Grace eventually led by as many as 41 and cruised to the 38-point win.
The Lancers are now outscoring their opponents by 41 points per game through the team’s first three outings.
Grace finished the game shooting 55 percent from the floor and 40 percent on 3-pointers (10 of 25). Bushnell was held to 28 percent shooting, including 27 percent on 3s.
Wadding (17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Sefton (17 points, 4 rebounds, 7 of 11 shooting) led Grace in scoring for the evening.
Cade Gibbs had 14 points and six rebounds, and Malone had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocked shots while shooting 4 of 5 overall.
Stoltzfus drilled a trio of 3-pointers for his nine points, Raasch had 8 points, 4 boards and 2 assists, and Scott added 5 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.
Marcus Davidson (4 points), Sickafoose (3 pointers) and Ian Darnell (3 points) also scored off the bench for Grace.
The Lancers will conclude the Crossroads Cascade Classic on Saturday with a matchup against the host Oregon Tech. The Owls are currently receiving votes in the NAIA. The game is scheduled to tip off at 10:30 p.m. (Eastern).