Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace’s men’s basketball team produced an entertaining evening to kick off the 2026-27 season.
The No. 1-ranked Lancers defeated IU Northwest 99-83 on Friday night in front of a packed crowd at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Grace used a combined 52 points from Gage Sefton and Ian Raasch to power past the Redhawks.
The Lancers shot 54 percent from the floor as a team, overcoming a subpar 3-point performance (6 of 20).
Grace began the season by scoring on the team’s first four possessions. Sefton scored five quick points, helping the Lancers to lead 9-2.
The Redhawks managed to keep pace, however, eventually tying the score 17-17 thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers.
Gavin Betten entered off the bench and gave Grace an immediate scoring boost. The Lancers regained a seven-point edge at 28-21 thanks to a Betten basket.
But IUNW charged back over the next three minutes, taking their first lead of the game at 30-29.
With six minutes to play in the half, Grace’s offense kicked into high gear. Ian Raasch and Betten combined to score 11 points in a four-minute span, helping Grace to a 15-4 spree.
Raasch then beat the buzzer with a score in the waning seconds, sending the Lancers into halftime with a 53-45 lead.
Sefton (19 points), Raasch (13) and Betten (10) combined to tally 42 of Grace’s 53 first-half points. The Lancers shot a sizzling 56 percent from the floor while holding the Redhawks to 44 percent.
Grace had 13 assists to just six turnovers before halftime.
The Lancers maintained their lead over the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Midway into the half, Grace made a game-clinching surge. The Lancers erupted on a 12-0 run to take a stranglehold on the game.
Betten scored four during the run, and Michael Wellman had two steals at the tail end; Wellman hit a trio of free throws, pushing Grace’s margin to 85-64 with 7:47 remaining in the game.
The Redhawks were unable to mount a response over the closing minutes, and Grace was able to utilize its bench over the last several minutes.
Isaac Schultz gave the crowd a final thrill with a thunderous dunk, which he immediately followed up with a blocked shot on the defensive end.
Grace strolled away to the final 16-point win to cap off the season debut.
Sefton shot 11 of 12 (4-5 on 3-pointers) for his 29 points, grabbing five rebounds as well.
Raasch had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 7 of 8, and Betten made 9 of 11 from the floor and finished with 18 points, 6 boards and 2 blocks.
Grady Carpenter handed out 10 assists and made three steals, and Wellman added 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
Tyler Raasch chipped in 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocked shots.
The Lancers will head to Iowa next week for a pair of games in the Crossroads/GPAC Challenge. Grace will play against No. 25 Morningside and Briar Cliff on Oct. 30-31.
