WINONA LAKE, Ind. – No. 14 Grace kicked off the 2015-16 men's basketball season with a 76-67 win over Wilberforce on Saturday.

The Lancers (1-0) led by 27 points late in the game before Bulldogs (0-2) rallied late to make the score closer.

Grace took the lead for good five minutes into the contest and never looked back. The Lancers buried five 3-pointers in a five-minute span to pull away from Wilberforce, and the hosts went into halftime ahead 46-34. Josh Ruggles was an offensive spark in the period, hitting three straight treys to enliven the crowd at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

The second half mirrored the first with Grace gradually grinding down Wilberforce. A 3-pointer from Brandon Vanderhegghen finished off a 19-6 spurt for the Lancers to start the second half, putting Grace on top 65-40.

The Lancers substituted freely in the second half, using 15 players on their roster. Grace cruised ahead 76-49 with 5:38 on the clock before the Bulldogs made a late push. Wilberforce ended the game on an 18-0 run as Grace's offense was held scoreless for nearly six minutes.

The clock ran out on Wilberforce, however, as Grace held on for the nine-point victory.

Vanderhegghen led Grace in scoring with 17 points on four 3-pointers, adding eight rebounds and two assists. Logan Irwin was 3-for-4 beyond the arc, registering 13 points with five assists, and Ruggles had four triples for 12 points in his collegiate debut.

Erik Bowen tallied nine points and seven boards, Kyle Fillman had eight points and five boards, and Caleb Featherston chipped in 3 points, 3 assists and 9 rebounds.

Grace shot 40 percent from the floor compared to 43 percent by Wilberforce. Grace won the rebounding battle, 41-33.

The Lancers will travel to Lawrence Tech on Tuesday before returning home on Friday against St. Xavier.