WINONA LAKE – Grace College’s men’s basketball team executed late to pull away with a pulse-pounding 89-88 victory over Huntington University Saturday. The Lancers’ clutch shooting included five made free throws over the final 25 seconds to erase a late deficit against the Foresters. When Grace and Huntington faced off last year, both games were decided by four or fewer points. Saturday’s game followed that trend with a classic Crossroads League battle. Huntington opened the game on a 7-0 spurt before the game settled into its rhythm. Overall, the game included 12 ties and 27 lead changes. The Foresters (4-5; 1-2 CL) went into the break ahead 41-37, but they would not hold a lead of greater than four points for the rest of the game. Late in the game, the Foresters used a quick 5-0 run to claim an 81-78 lead with less than three minutes remaining, but freshman Caleb Featherston drilled a 3-pointer on the next possession to tie the game. Huntington grabbed a two-point lead before Grimm scored to knot the game at 84-84. The Foresters were fouled on their next possession and made 1-of-2 from the line to take a one-point lead with 47 seconds remaining. After Grimm was fouled on Grace’s end of the floor, he handed Grace an 86-85 lead with a pair of gutsy free throws with 25 seconds left. Huntington was then whistled for traveling on its next possession and was forced to foul Lee Ross, who calmly sank both free throws with under seven seconds on the clock. Grace then initiated a full-court press after the made free throw, which rattled the Foresters into a turnover. Huntington sent Featherston to the free throw line, and his 1-of-2 performance from the charity stripe allowed the Lancers (5-2; 2-1 CL) to surrender a meaningless last-second 3-pointer from Huntington in Grace’s win. Grimm led all players with 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting, and Elliot Smith buried 4 of 6 from the three-point en route to 17 points. Greg Miller totaled 12 points and eight boards, and Featherston added 10 points off the bench. The Lancers will host the Habitat for Humanity Tournament Friday and Saturday at the Orthopaedic Capital Center. Grace will play Wilberforce Friday at 8 p.m. and Trinity Christian Saturday at 3 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL HUNTINGTON – Grace’s women’s basketball team dropped a 75-52 game to Crossroads League opponent Huntington on Saturday. The Lady Lancers (7-3; 1-2 CL) allowed Huntington to hit nearly 60 percent of its field goals as the Foresters (7-2; 2-1 CL) had an assist on 24 of their 29 made shots. “Our lack of defensive focus was the issue. Our heart was in our offense, and when it doesn’t flow, we lose focus on our defense,” said Grace head coach Scott Blum. “We lacked execution on defense giving up open jump shots. We need better effort on the defensive side of the ball before we can call ourselves a great team. We will refocus and get to work on Monday.” Grace was efficient on the offensive side of the floor in the first half. The Lady Lancers made all three of their 3-point attempts and went 12 of 24 from the field. But Huntington’s offense was even more potent as they nailed 60 percent of their shots in the opening half, taking a 40-29 lead into the halftime break. The Foresters continued to make shots after halftime, as well, as they sank 58 percent of their field goals in the game overall. Grace struggled in protecting the basketball as 24 turnovers hampered its cause. Allison Kauffman was the only Lady Lancer in double figures with 14 points and six boards on 6-of-9 shooting. Emily Bidwell and Gabby Bryant added seven points, and Sarah Feasby scored eight points in 18 minutes off the bench. The Lady Lancers will return to action Saturday with a road game at IU-Northwest.
