WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's men's basketball team improved its record to 6-0 with a hard-fought 74-61 victory over West Virginia Tech.

Saturday's game was the conclusion of Grace's Hoops for Hope, an annual tournament which raises funds for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.

The contest was also a rematch from their canceled 2020 NAIA tournament game. This year, both squads were receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

The Lancers fell behind by 10 points early in the first half before Elijah Malone and Frankie Davidson helped the Lancers storm back for the convincing win.

The Golden Bears (3-2) came out of the gate energized. Behind lethal 3-point shooting, WVU built a quick nine-point lead which prompted a timeout from Grace.

The stoppage seemed to settle the Lancers (6-0) offensively, but the Golden Bears hot shooting continued as they earned an 18-8 lead over Grace six minutes into the half.

Malone answered with a pair of thunderous dunks that sparked an 18-2 run for the Lancers. Grace's scoring run included a highlight reel play from Carter Stoltzfus and Ian Scott which sent the Lancer faithful into a frenzy at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

West Virginia Tech again relied on 3-point shooting to claw back into the game, scoring late to tie the score 32-32 at halftime.

The Lancers shot 56 percent from the field and hit 1 of 3 attempted 3-point field goals. 

West Virginia Tech shot 41 percent from the field in the first half and went 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Golden Bears did not attempt a free throw in the first half.

Both teams traded buckets early in the second half before Stoltzfus drained a deep shot to put a five-point cushion between Grace and West Virginia Tech.

Eddie Gill IV was ferocious on defense and made a pair of stellar plays that helped the Lancers extend their lead to 51-42.

The Golden Bears refused to fade and followed up the Lancer run with a pair of 3-point possessions to eat into Grace's lead.

West Virginia Tech pulled within one possession when Grace took control of the game for the final time.

Scott hit a jump shot to push Grace's lead to five. On the ensuing possession Stoltzfus started a fastbreak with a steal and dished a pass to Jake Wadding to swing momentum back in the Lancers' favor.

The Golden Bears tried to muster one last comeback, but a clutch 3-pointer from Frankie Davidson at the end of the shot clock swished through the net and with it seemed to go the spirits of the West Virginia squad.

Grace iced the game at the free throw line, besting the Golden Bears 74-61.

The Lancers shot a sizzling 66 percent from the field in the second half and 60 percent for the game. They hit three of their seven 3-point shots and were a solid 15 of 21 from the charity stripe.

The Golden Bears shot 40 percent from the field and, after a hot first half, went 2 of 11 from beyond the arc in the second half. WVU made its only free throw of the game.

Malone led all players with 20 points and double-doubled for the third time this season with 10 rebounds. He also blocked three shots and added one steal. Davidson closely followed Malone with 19 points and five rebounds.

Wadding had a solid outing with 11 points and nine rebounds. Gill added 10 points and four steals.

Malone was named to the All-Tournament Team, and Davidson was the Tournament MVP.

Grace's Brett Sickafoose earned the Charles Hollar Mental Attitude Award.

The Lancers will play at Judson at 8 p.m. on Tuesday before traveling to Ohio on Saturday to open up Crossroads League play at Mt. Vernon Nazarene.