GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A career-high performance from Gage Sefton was not enough to lift Grace’s men’s basketball team on Tuesday night.
The No. 8 Lancers fell to Cornerstone 87-78 despite Sefton’s career-high 30 points.
Grace produced a brave comeback in the second half against the Golden Eagles, who are receiving votes in the NAIA poll. The Lancers erased a 15-point deficit after halftime and managed to tie the score with less than two minutes remaining.
But late execution from the Golden Eagles allowed CU to collect the win.
Sefton’s 30 points also came with a career-best nine rebounds as well as three steals and two assists. He shot 13 of 18 from the floor.
Grace did not begin the game well, quickly falling behind 8-2.
But the Lancers quickly got on track with eight unanswered points, including four from Ian Scott.
Cornerstone was able to regain the lead in the next few minutes, and CU remained in front for the remainder of the half.
The Golden Eagles used a pair of 3-pointers to charge ahead by 13 with four minutes to go in the half, but Grace managed to rally and ended the half with momentum.
Two quick layups from Scott was followed by an and-1 from Brycen Graber. Hunter Walston then produced a layup with five seconds left, slashing CU’s lead to 42-36 at halftime.
Grace struggled to find its shooting touch, connecting on 39 percent overall from the floor and 0 percent (0 for 9) on 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles made four 3s, shot 48 percent from the floor and outrebounded Grace by eight.
The second half resulted in another slow start for Grace. CU ripped off nine straight points, opening up a 15-point lead at 51-36.
Grace turned to its rugged sophomore Gage Sefton, and he delivered. Sefton scored Grace’s next eight points over a two-minute span to shrink the deficit to 10.
Sefton scored six more points with a layup, free throw and 3-pointer to pull Grace within six.
A few minutes later, and-1 by Justin DeGraaf and a 3-pointer from Walston trimmed the deficit to two with 7:45 on the clock.
CU tried to pull away, but four fast points in the paint from Scott helped bridge the gap.
The Lancers then earned their way to the free throw line to stay within striking distance, and a fastbreak layup from Sefton tied the score at 78-78 with 1:34 remaining.
But unfortunately for Grace, the Lancers’ offensive gas ran out. Grace did not score over the final several possessions with two potential game-tying triples missing the mark.
The Golden Eagles made enough free throws over the final 90 seconds to polish off the victory.
Scott stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal, shooting 8 of 13 from the floor.
Graber amassed 8 points, 5 boards and 5 assists, and DeGraaf had 10 points with six rebounds.
Walston scored seven points with a pair of steals off the bench, and Carter Stoltzfus tallied 2 points, 3 assists and 2 boards.
Grace finished the game shooting 43 percent overall, 13 percent on 3s and 71 percent from the free throw line.
The Lancers will have another shot at a ranked team in Michigan on Friday when the Lancers take on No. 21 Madonna.