There are a combined 1,304 schools that play college basketball across the NCAA Divisions I through III as well as the NAIA. If you’re looking for a team on that long list that also has a zero in the loss column, it shrinks down to just one. Luckily for Kosciusko County hoops fans, that team plays right here in Winona Lake.
After another win on Wednesday night against Taylor University, the Grace College men’s basketball team now stands at a staggering 23-0, holding the title of being the lone undefeated team in all of men’s college basketball.
“It’s really cool. As a coach it’s something that helps you sleep at night,” head coach Scott Moore said in an interview earlier this week. “Coming into the season, our goal wasn’t to go undefeated, it was to win every game. Those may sound like the same thing but it’s not. One of those means if we lose, the season’s over and we’ve lost our goal. The other means we can get beat but we can come back and win the next one.”
The Lancers have yet to be beaten in a season that has, to this point, been one of the most successful in school history. 23-0 is the best start in team history and the team has been ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for most of the year. Perhaps most impressive of all, only two of Grace’s 23 wins have come by single digits. The team’s closest margin of victory this year was six against Marian.
“We have an older, more experienced team, and when that’s the case, your room for improvement is a lot smaller,” Moore said. “It’s hard to improve when you’ve been playing so long. What makes this group special is that from when this process started six months ago to now, this team is a whole lot better, and I think they can keep improving.”
With the regular season wrapping up in about a month and the postseason just around the corner, Moore knows that the games are going to get tougher. While the team hasn’t had much in terms of pressure this season, it is an experienced group that has been through the fire before.
“The last two years have prepared us for anything. We’ve been to Kansas City for the national tournament the last two seasons,” Moore said. “We’ve lost some tough games and even though that hasn’t happened this season, it’s happened to this group before. Once we get to the tournament, the 28 games before that are irrelevant. We’re 0-0.”
The Lancers do indeed boast an experienced group made up mostly of juniors and seniors. The Gibbs twins, Cade and Jakob, both average double digit points. Jake Wadding averages just under 10, but is shooting at a 40% clip from downtown.
The main draw is 6’10” senior center Elijah Malone, who recently was named to the watchlist for the inaugural Trevor Hudgins award, given to recognize the finest overall career by a player at the small college level. Malone averages 17 points, eight rebounds and over two blocks a contest.
“He’s one of the best if not the best players at this level in the country, and he’s so loyal,” Moore said. “People don’t understand that he could have left the last two years. He could have gone to play higher, he could have made more money, but he chose to be with this team. He gives a lot up every night in terms of personal numbers to help this team win which is hard to do when you’re an alpha. When his time is done, he’ll be in the argument for best ever to put on that Grace jersey.”
The Lancers also boast a plethora of local talent on the roster. Junior Brett Sickafoose is a former Whitko Wildcat. Freshman Ian Raasch is fresh off winning a state title at NorthWood last year. Fellow first-year player Seth Martin is the reigning Times-Union Player of the Year after a stellar senior season at Lakeland Christian.
“Every player on this roster has value. One through fifteen. Even the guys that don’t get into the game,” Moore said. “You might not see the impact some of these guys make between the lines, but the process that goes into this for 10-12 months, they play such a big part of it.”
Moore continued the praise of his team even further.
“This group has been a coach’s dream. If I never coached another game after this season I could be happy,” Moore said. “It’s not just about the record, it’s about how they pursue Jesus. How they interact on campus. Every player on this team is going to be successful in life, and you can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Lancers play three more regular season games at home on the next three Saturdays. February 24th’s contest will serve as the regular season finale as well as Senior Day. Grace will also figure to have some home games in March as well, depending how they fare in the Crossroads League Tournament. The team is expected to host the two opening rounds of the NAIA Tournament starting on March 15.