GOSHEN, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team nearly came back from a 14-point deficit before ultimately falling 86-80 at Goshen.
The Lancers (7-11, 0-6 Crossroads League) cut Goshen's lead down to two on two occasions in the final 2:30. But the Maple Leafs (10-8, 3-3 CL) hit a pair of timely shots in the final minutes and then secured the victory at the free throw line.
Logan Godfrey had 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists despite being limited by foul trouble, and Erik Bowen scored 16 points before also fouling out. Jaret Sons was a spark off the bench with 16 points, going 6-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line.
Turnovers plagued Grace in the first half. The Lancers turned the ball over 12 times before halftime and shot 37 percent from the floor, including 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.
In spite of Grace's offensive issues, the teams could hardly be separated over the first 15 minutes of the half; Grace led by four, but the score was quickly tied 27-27 with 4:55 remaining.
Grace's shooting touch went cold over the final five minutes of the half, and Goshen surged ahead. The Lancers missed eight of their final nine field goals, and the Maple Leafs responded with a 16-5 run to end the half. Goshen led 43-32 by halftime.
The Maple Leafs pulled ahead by 14 early in the second half before Grace started its rally. Godfrey scored eight points to jumpstart the team's momentum, and Sons added eight points of his own with a pair of 3-pointers. Sons's second triple cut Goshen's margin down to 61-58 with 9:49 to play.
Goshen went in front by nine with 4:30 left on the clock, but seven unanswered points from the Lancers slashed that lead to 78-76 with 2:27 remaining.
After both teams scored, Grace had a chance to take the lead, but a 3-pointer from Charlie Warner was off the mark with 56 seconds on the clock. Goshen then converted a timely bucket at the end of the shot clock to go ahead by four, and the win was iced at the free throw line.
Grace shot markedly better than Goshen for the game, 48 percent to 41 percent. But the Lancers coughed up 19 turnovers compared to just nine for the Maple Leafs, and Goshen also hauled in 10 offensive rebounds.
Goshen additionally got to the free throw line early and often, shooting 16 more foul shots than Grace.
Matt Jennings and Haden Deaton filled the stat sheet with Jennings going for 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Deaton adding 9 points, 4 assists and 2 boards.
The Lancers will look for their first league win of the season on Tuesday, traveling to Marian for a 7 p.m. showdown.
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