WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace's men's basketball team wrapped up the 2014-15 season with a 89-80 defeat to Cincinnati Christian at NCCAA Nationals.
The Lancers were led by a career performance from Brandon Vanderhegghen, who ripped off a career-high 28 points in a loss in the fifth-place game on Friday. Grace ends the season with a record of 23-13, advancing to the program's ninth consecutive national tournament under head coach Jim Kessler.
Grace drilled a season-high 14 shots from the 3-point line in the shootout at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The outside shooting for Grace began in earnest in the first half from the hands of Vanderhegghen and Niko Read. Vanderhegghen buried 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for 14 points before halftime, and Read added two more treys and 10 points.
The Lancers did not trail in the opening period and claimed a 43-33 lead at halftime. Grace wrapped up the half on an 8-2 spurt, bookended by 3's from Vanderhegghen. Adrian Makolli, fresh off a career-best 18 points in Thursday's win over Simpson, hit 4-of-5 from the floor for eight points as an offensive spark.
Grace built up an 11-point lead on a basket from Caleb Featherston two minutes into the second half, but the Golden Eagles came roaring back into contention.
CCU scored 13 unanswered points after Featherston's shot to take a 50-48 lead with 12:30 remaining. Grace went 6:17 between baskets in a critical scoring drought.
The Golden Eagles still had a five-point lead when Vanderhegghen and Irwin combined for an 8-0 run for Grace. Vanderhegghen started the run with a triple and ended it with a driving basket, and Irwin converted an and-1 in the middle to help Grace to a 70-67 lead with under five minutes to play.
Grace's offense hit another lethal scoring drought that effectively gave CCU the win. Grace went 3:34 without scoring, allowing the Golden Eagles to pull away 78-70 with just 1:28 on the clock. Read hit a pair of tough contested 3-pointers, and Irwin added another in the final minute to bring Grace back within five, but CCU sealed the victory from the free throw line.
The Lancers made five more field goals in the game than the Golden Eagles, but CCU made 22 more free throws. CCU was 28-of-34 from the foul line compared to 6-of-15 (40 percent) for Grace.
Grace also had 17 assists to just four turnovers, but they were outrebounded by 12 in the game.
Vanderhegghen's 28 points came on 11-of-18 shooting overall and 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Irwin had 16 points, 8 assists and 0 turnovers. Read (16 points, four 3's) and Makolli (8 points, 5 rebounds) had strong showings in their collegiate finales.
