Lancers top Lawrence Tech 57-34, set record for fewest points allowed
Posted
Josh Neuhart-
WINONA LAKE – While it may not have been the prettiest game Grace College’s men’s basketball team has ever played, it was the Lancers’ best in at least one sense. In a 57-34 win over Lawrence Tech Tuesday night at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, the Lancers broke the program’s record for fewest points allowed in a game. Grace’s previous best for stingiest defense in a game was 35 points against Unity in the 1978-79 season. Grace struggled with its shooting touch, making just 21 of 62 (34 percent) attempts from the floor overall and 4 of 18 from the three-point line. The Lancers (3-0), however, handcuffed the Blue Devils (1-2) to 29-percent shooting for the game, which included a 2-of-20 performance from beyond the arc. In a contest in which offense was at a premium, the Lancers’ defense did not surrender a point in the first four minutes of action. The Blue Devils suffered a severe scoring drought starting at the 12:15 mark of the first half, going scoreless for much of the next nine minutes. Grace used Lawrence Tech’s woes to open up a 23-7 lead and went into the locker room ahead 27-12 at the break. Shortly into the second half, Logan Irwin scored five quick points to hand the Lancers a 20-point lead. The Blue Devils never came closer than 18 points for the remaining 17 minutes of action. Grace held a commanding plus-13 advantage in rebounds at 43-30, aided by 16 offensive boards. Grace forced Lawrence Tech into 17 turnovers and scored 19 points off those miscues. Niko Read led all players in scoring with 14 points and added two steals. Irwin’s well-rounded performance included 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Dennis Williams had eight points and eight rebounds. Kyle Fillman tallied all seven of his points from the free throw line, and Caleb Featherston chipped in four points. The Lancers play their first road games of the season this weekend with a tournament at Trinity International. Grace will play Trinity International on Friday and Missouri Valley on Saturday in Deerfield, Ill.
