WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace’s men’s basketball team used a dominant finish to polish off Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday in the Crossroads League Tournament.
The Lancers ended the game on a 24-2 run, beating MVNU 83-64 in the quarterfinals.
The win sends the top-seeded Lancers to the semifinals, where Grace will meet up with Indiana Wesleyan. Friday’s semifinal contest will tip off at 7 p.m. at Grace’s Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The winner of Friday’s semifinal will advance to the tournament championship game on Monday night.
Grace (24-5) had four players score in double figures, led by Ian Scott’s 23 points.
Grace enjoyed a hot start to the game. The Lancers were lethal from the floor, scoring nine unanswered points to grab an early advantage.
The Lancers were particularly effective from long distance, hitting seven 3-pointers in the first half.
Midway into the half, Grace began to build its cushion by scoring in transition. The Lancers attacked the rim relentlessly, forcing early foul trouble onto the Cougars.
With less three minutes left in the half, Grace built a 15-point lead at 43-28.
But a late flurry from the Cougars allowed MVNU to battle back. MVNU still trailed, however, 45-36 as the game reached halftime.
Gage Sefton had 12 first-half points for Grace. The Cougars were forced into 10 turnovers thanks to Grace’s pesky defense.
The Cougars carried their momentum into the second half. MVNU scored 10 of the first 14 points after halftime, quickly gutting Grace’s lead down to three.
A 3-pointer from Ian Raasch and a dunk from Scott helped Grace find its footing, but the Cougars continued to press.
Grace finally saw its lead slip away at 60-59 with 10:20 remaining.
The Lancers hit a cold stretch, scoring just one point over a stretch of 4:45. Grace missed seven field goals with three missed free throws during that period.
But Grace’s defense refused to let MVNU pull away. The Cougars only led by three with 7:35 to play before Grace came alive.
Two straight layups from Raasch and Scott handed Grace the lead for good at 63-62, and the Lancers never looked back.
Scott was a key figure, scoring nine points over the final 4:18, and Hunter Walston buried two 3-point daggers down the stretch to further bury the Cougars. Grace walked away with the 19-point win.
Scott shot 10 of 13 from the floor for his game-high 23 points, adding 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots.
Sefton finished with 16 points and five rebounds while hitting two triples, and Raasch tallied 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while defending MVNU’s best player.
Walston amassed 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, shooting 4 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 on 3s.
Grace finished the game with just 10 turnovers, amassing 24 assists on 30 made field goals.