MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Grace's first game this season as a ranked team was a barnburner.

The No. 18 Lancers and No. 6 Mt. Vernon Nazarene combined to score 203 points in regulation, separated by just one point. The Cougars came out on top 102-101 in a memorable Crossroads League contest.

Grace had three 20-point scorers in the loss. Charlie Warner poured in 28 points, Jaret Sons netted a career-high 27, and Haden Deaton added 24 points in defeat.

The Cougars could not be stopped at the start of Saturday's game. MVNU scored on its first nine possessions of the contest, opening up a 22-7 advantage after just five minutes.

Grace did its best to play catch-up, hitting 3-pointers on three straight possessions courtesy of Warner, Hank Smith and Sons.

But the Cougars' offense still refused to slow down. With less than six minutes remaining, Grace found itself in a 50-33 hole. 

The Lancers (13-7, 5-3 CL) made a stand to close the half, however. The Cougars (17-3, 5-3 CL) scored just four more points for the rest of the half, allowing Grace to close the gap.

Grace poured in 15 points over the final five minutes, sparked by five points apiece from Warner and Sons. 

By halftime, Grace trailed 54-48 but seemed to have momentum after nearly erasing its deficit.

Grace shot 48 percent as a team in the half, but the Cougars were even better at 63 percent.

MVNU hit 11 triples before halftime at a 61-percent clip. Sons's 15 points led Grace in the half.

It did not take the Lancers long to take the lead. Grace started the second half on a 12-5 run thanks to eight points from Warner.

A 3-pointer from Warner put Grace on top 60-59, the Lancers' first lead since the score was 3-2.

Grace led by as many as five in the early stages of the second half, but the Cougars were far from finished.

MVNU went on a 15-5 run to grab a seven-point cushion and force a timeout from Grace.

Grace was not fazed, however, battling back and tying the score at 83-83 after a tough inside layup from Deaton with six minutes to play.

The Cougars would not relinquish their lead down the stretch, although the game went down to the wire.

On numerous occasions Grace trailed by just two or three. But each time the Cougars had an answer on offense, typically in the paint.

Myles Johnson was a force down the stretch for Grace, scoring six points in the final minutes to keep the Lancers in striking distance.

Grace had the ball with 43 seconds remaining, trailing by three. But a triple at the top of the key misfired.

Deaton and Sons made the end interesting with 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds. But the Cougars hit 4-of-4 on free throws over the final minute, and time ran out on the Lancers.

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor and over 50 beyond on 3-pointers. In an efficient offensive display, the teams each committed six or fewer turnovers.

Sons's 27 points came with five 3-pointers, adding seven boards and five assists. Warner shot 5-of-7 from beyond the arc for his 28 points.

Smith drilled 4-of-6 from beyond the arc for 12 points off the bench, and Johnson added 10 points, 7 boards and 1 block. Braxton Linville amassed 11 assists in 19 minutes, and Matt Jennings handed out five assists.

The Lancers return home on Tuesday. Grace welcomes No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan to the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center at 7 p.m. The game will mark the sixth straight Top-25 opponent that Grace will play, nearing the end of seven consecutive ranked matchups.