SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – In last year’s men’s basketball game between Grace College and Lawrence Tech University, the Blue Devils were held to 34 points – a program record for Grace’s best defensive effort. While records weren’t broken during Tuesday night’s matchup, defense was still the catalyst in the Lancers’ 61-59 win over the Blue Devils (0-2). Logan Irwin sizzled his way to 22 points and five assists, and Erik Bowen and Kyle Fillman both had double-doubles for the Lancers (2-0). Grace shot just 39 percent from the floor, but the Lancers held a plus-17 advantage in rebounding. Grace’s defense held Tech to 42 percent shooting and 30 points or less in each half. Tech surprised the 14th-ranked Lancers in the first half, leading 15-8 early. The Blue Devils led much of the period, building up a nine-point cushion with just 1:30 remaining. But Bowen scored two quick hoops in the paint, and Irwin beat the buzzer for another basket to trim the Blue Devils’ advantage to 29-26 at halftime. The Lancers started the second half on a 17-7 spurt thanks to eight points from Irwin and five from Bowen. Grace pulled ahead 43-36 at the midway mark of the second half and never surrendered the lead again. The Blue Devils managed to slice the Lancers’ cushion down to two points on five occasions, but each time Grace had an answer. Brandon Vanderhegghen sank two timely free throws with 13 seconds on the clock, and Fillman added another with three seconds left. Tech hit a desperation three-pointer with a second remaining to pull within two, but time expired on the inbounds pass as Grace improved to 2-0 on the season. Irwin’s 22 points came on 9-of-17 shooting. Fillman had 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Bowen had 11 points and 10 boards. Vanderhegghen finished with nine points and four rebounds, and Caleb Featherston chipped in five points and five boards. The Lancers host St. Xavier Friday at 7 p.m. at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
