SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - A six-game winning streak came to a halt on Wednesday for Grace’s men’s basketball team.
The No. 14 Lancers (7-3, 2-1 Crossroads League) were quiet offensively, falling on the road to Spring Arbor 76-61.
Grace finished the game shooting 37 percent from the floor as a team. The percentage paled in comparison to SAU’s 55 percent. Grace also made just 18 percent (4 of 22) from the 3-point line.
The Cougars, who are receiving votes in the NAIA, were quick to pounce ahead on Wednesday. SAU erupted with a 17-5 run as the Lancers struggled to slow down the Cougars.
Brycen Graber did his best to keep the Lancers afloat, scoring eight points over the first eight minutes with a pair of triples.
Grace faced a 21-10 deficit but steadily chipped away at SAU’s lead.
Gage Sefton was a physical force, helping Grace bounce back. He sank six free throws in a two-minute span, bringing Grace to within two at 33-31.
SAU poured in nine points over the final 2:20, however, building a 42-35 lead as the game reached halftime.
In the first half, Grace shot just 44 percent from the floor compared to 57 percent for SAU. Sefton’s 14 points charged the Lancers before halftime.
Sefton, Ian Raasch and Ian Scott combined for 14 of Grace’s first 16 points of the second half; the Lancers battled back within three points at 52-49.
But Grace’s offense fell flat during the middle portions of the half. The Lancers mustered only eight points over nearly seven minutes, and the Cougars took advantage to build a comfortable lead.
The Lancers trailed by a dozen with four minutes to play, and Grace was unable to generate a dramatic comeback. The Cougars held on to win.
Sefton led Grace with 18 points and three rebounds, going 10 for 10 from the free throw line.
Scott finished with 16 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, Raasch had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, and Graber tallied 8 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. No other player for Grace topped three points.
The Lancers will look to rebound on Saturday. Grace travels to Taylor on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Grace returns home on Dec. 13 for Elementary Day. Grace's men's and women's teams will host a mid-day doubleheader (11 a.m. women's; 1 p.m. men's), allowing area elementary schools to pack the arena during the school day in a memorable event.

Cougars Get Better Of Lancers On The Road
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace’s volleyball team was unable to collect a road win on Wednesday, falling at Spring Arbor 78-56.
The Lancers (5-3, 0-3 Crossroads League) were unable to keep pace with the Cougars after shooting 30 percent from the floor.
The first quarter was evenly matched. Grace led 7-6 after four minutes, but neither team could again score for nearly three minutes.
The Cougars quickly ripped off six points in a row, but Grace scored the final five.
Morganne Houk canned a 3-pointer in the corner in the final seconds of the quarter, allowing Grace to tie the score 12-12 after 10 minutes.
The Lancers shot just 31 percent from the field in the quarter but forced SAU into five turnovers.
Grace began the second quarter with six quick points, but the Cougars responded with a 9-0 run.
Houk kept Grace’s offense rolling with a steady flow of baskets. Sophia Morrison also buried a deep triple to trim SAU’s lead to three at 30-27.
The Cougars maintained a lead at the intermission, however, going into the break with a 34-29 lead.
The teams shot nearly identical from the floor, but the Cougars scored 14 points off turnovers and added 11 points off the bench.
Houk’s 13 points led all players at halftime.
Grace’s offense sputtered in the second, however. The Lancers made just two field goals in the third quarter, shooting 2 of 13 as a team.
Defensively though, Grace kept SAU within striking distance. Grace forced the Cougars into nine turnovers in the period, and the Lancers frequently turned those miscues into free throws.
Grace still found itself in a 53-41 hole as the game reached the final quarter.
The Lancers’ offensive woes carried into the fourth quarter. Grace missed a series of shots in the paint as the visitors were unable to find an offensive rhythm.
Grace was held to six points over the first 5:26; the Cougars added to their double-digit lead, concluding with a 22-point win.
Houk finished with a game-high 21 points, and Peyton Murphy added 14 points, 6 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals.
Morrison tallied 9 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds, and Kate Thomas notched 6 points, 6 boards and 2 assists.
The Lancers continue play on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the road against Taylor.