WINONA LAKE –—The Grace College men’s basketball only trailed for one possession on Friday night against Holy Cross, but it picked the wrong possession. Holy Cross stunned the home crowd with a last-gasp 3-pointer that banked in to defeat the 16th-ranked Lancers 88-87 in the Bennigan’s Terry Polston Hoops for Hope. Grace led by as many as 14 points in the game, but the Holy Cross Saints made three 3-pointers in the frantic final 29 seconds to steal the victory. The Lancers (4-1) held a seemingly comfortable 81-72 lead with 2:51 to play following a 3-pointer by Logan Irwin. Grace still appeared to be in control with a six-point lead with 40 seconds remaining, but the Saints hit 3s on consecutive possessions, sandwiching a Lancer turnover, to tie the game at 85-85 with 11 seconds remaining. Grace raced down the court where Irwin scored a go-ahead bucket in traffic with six seconds on the clock. Holy Cross’s Dane Okuda had the final say with a leaning, banking 3-pointer from the wing to lift the Saints to an improbable win. The loss spoiled another pristine performance from Greg Miller, who poured in 31 points and 13 rebounds. He made 12-of-19 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the 3-point line. Niko Read scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half, and Irwin finished with 17 points and five assists. Grace will look to regroup in today’s consolation game against Missouri Baptist at noon
