UPLAND – Grace College’s men’s basketball team continued its winning ways with a 70-61 victory at Crossroads League foe Taylor University on Saturday. The Lancers (17-5, 7-3 Crossroads League) have now won four straight and seven of their past eight. After starting 1-2 in league play, Grace will have a chance to move into first place in the league on Tuesday when it hosts NAIA defending national champion and current league leader Indiana Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Grace led for all but one possession on Saturday in Upland after opening the game’s scoring with a free throw from Dennis Williams. Williams, who scored 10 points in the first half, also netted the final points of the period to put the Lancers on top 33-30. Brandon Vanderhegghen also tallied 10 points in the first half. The Trojans (11-11, 2-8 CL) refused to make life easy for the Lancers. After Grace built up an eight-point lead a few minutes into the second half, the Trojans battled back to within one point at 38-37. The teams traded baskets over the next three minutes until a three-pointer by Taylor’s Keaton Hendricks gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at 45-44 with 9:07 remaining. Logan Irwin and Kyle Fillman hit two free throws apiece on Grace’s next two possessions, and Irwin then converted a three-point play to reestablish a six-point edge. Williams scored six consecutive points in the paint to give the Lancers the cushion they needed. Taylor was forced to foul Grace down the stretch, and the Lancers responded by drilling seven free throws in the final minute en route to the nine-point victory. All five starters for Grace scored in double figures. Williams led all players with 17 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Vanderhegghen filled the stat sheet with 15 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. Irwin had 11 points, five assists and four boards. Niko Read finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Kyle Fillman tallied 10 points and three boards. Grace shot 38 percent from the floor, compared to Taylor’s 44 percent. The Lancers had a significant advantage at the foul line, however, making 26 free throws. The Trojans, conversely, were just 4 of 8 from the free throw line. Kyle Stidom and Ian Dutcher led Taylor with 13 points each, while Jesse Coffey and Keaton Hendricks scored 11 and nine points, respectively.
