WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball, fresh off its new No. 1 ranking in the NAIA, battled by Spring Arbor 70-56 on Saturday.

The Lancers (9-0, 3-0 Crossroads League) continued their perfect start to the season thanks to a gritty defensive display.

Jakob Gibbs led Grace in scoring with 16 points in the physical battle, and Jake Wadding added 14 points.

Grace began the game slowly on offense, needing almost four minutes to score.

Jake Wadding opened Grace's scoring with a 3-pointer, and Jakob Gibbs hit another triple a minute later.

With the score even at 10-10, Grace scored six unanswered points which was capped off with a trey from Ian Raasch.

The Cougars kept the score close, trailing by just two with 6:40 left in the half. But Grace was about to blow the game open.

The Lancers rattled off 18 consecutive points, charging ahead 38-20.

Wadding was a key figure during Grace's run. The senior hit two more 3-pointers and muscled his way to a tough rebound putback to bring the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center crowd to its feet.

SAU scored in the final seconds of the half, but the damage was done. Grace raced into halftime with a 38-20 lead.

The Cougars were forced into 11 turnovers thanks to 10 steals from Grace. SAU shot just 36 percent from the floor and did not make a 3-pointer in the half.

Wadding had 13 points and three 3s in the half, and Brycen Graber racked up seven assists with three steals.

The Cougars battled fiercely in the second half, putting pressure on the Lancers.

Four minutes after halftime, the Lancers' lead had dwindled to 10. Grace scored just three points in the first four minutes of the half.

The Lancers' attack still sputtered five minutes later, allowing SAU to pull within five at 46-41.

But Brett Sickafoose came off the bench and immediately supplied an offensive spark. Sickafoose scored seven quick points, boosting Grace's lead back up to 10 with eight minutes to play.

The Lancers' defense refused to let SAU generate another run over the final eight minutes. Grace eventually closed the door by finding easier points down the stretch. An acrobatic putback layup from Ian Scott gave Grace confidence, and the Lancers also canned eight free throws across the final five minutes of regulation.

The Lancers eased away for the final 14-point margin of victory.

Jakob Gibbs's team-high 16 points came with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots, and Wadding tallied 14 points, 6 boards and 2 assists.

Elijah Malone finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and Scott had eight points and five boards.

Cade Gibbs tallied 7 points, 2 steals and 2 boards, Sickafoose had seven points, Graber tallied 9 assists, 4 boards and 3 steals, and Carter Stoltzfus added 4 points, 3 steals and 2 boards.

The Lancers will hit the road on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game at Michigan-Dearborn.