EL CAJON, Calif. - Grace's men's basketball team ended the California trip with a loss, falling to NAIA Div. I San Diego Christian 84-78 on Tuesday.

The Lancers (9-4) shot 53 percent from the floor, but Grace was unable to erase a late deficit to end its five-game winning streak.

The Hawks (3-6) started the game with four straight points, but Matt Jennings countered with six unanswered points of his own.

The teams traded small runs for most of the opening half. The Hawks employed a press defensively throughout the half, trapping often which at times gave Grace trouble.

With two minutes remaining, Charlie Warner buried a triple and Jennings hit a jumper to cut San Diego's lead to one at 38-37.

But that proved to be Grace's last points of the half. The Hawks rattled off six points over the final 98 seconds to lead 44-37 at halftime.

Grace shot 50 percent from the floor in the half but only 30 percent (3 of 10) from beyond the arc. Haden Deaton had 13 points before halftime to lead the Lancers.

The Lancers quickly erased the Hawks' lead after halftime. Grace scored the first seven points of the second half to tie the game at 44-44.

Shortly after that point, Jaret Sons scored on back-to-back plays to put Grace ahead 48-46.

San Diego battled back, using a 7-0 spurt to claim a 62-56 edge midway through the half.

The Hawks remained in front for the rest of regulation. 

Grace did its best to rally; Sons converted an acrobatic and-1 with 4:33 remaining to make the score 75-71.

San Diego pulled ahead by 10, but Grace had one more comeback attempt. Jennings scored five quick points, and Warner made two free throws to cut the Hawks' cushion down to 81-78 with 32 seconds remaining.

Grace sent the Hawks to the foul line where they missed the front-end of the bonus shot, but San Diego grabbed its own offensive rebound. The Hawks then proceeded to make its two foul shots to effectively end the game.

Deaton posted a double-double of 20 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists, and Jennings added 19 points with three assists.

Sons also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, and Warner tallied 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. No other Lancer scored more than three points.

The Lancers' next game will be a memorable one. Grace will take on Ohio Christian on Dec. 30 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The game in Indianapolis starts at 5:30 p.m.