WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team avenged an earlier loss, trouncing Taylor 75-56 on Saturday.
The win came on Senior Day for the No. 7-ranked Lancers (22-3, 12-3 Crossroads League).
Grace impressed defensively, largely muting the offense for the Trojans (13-12, 7-8 CL). Taylor was held to 44 percent shooting and scored less than 32 points in each half.
The first half was a defensive clinic for the Lancers. Grace held Taylor to 25 points and led for practically the whole half.
Taylor took a one-point lead in the opening minutes, but the rest of the half belonged to Grace.
Jakob Gibbs provided the spark plug, providing 10 unanswered points by himself to hand Grace a nine-point edge.
The Trojans managed to come all the way back, sneaking in front 19-18 midway into the half.
But Grace countered again with a devastating 18-2 run in the closing minutes of the half. Jake Wadding began the run with an and-1, and Ian Scott scored on back-to-back plays to increase the Lancers' cushion to 15.
Taylor managed to score four quick points to end the half, but Grace still charged into halftime with a 36-25 advantage.
It was not Grace's most efficient half offensively as the home team shot 44 percent from the floor and 27 percent on 3s. But Grace helped its cause by making 9 of 11 from the free throw line and by committing just two turnovers.
Jakob Gibbs led all players with 15 points before halftime.
Grace did not slow to begin the second half. The Lancers used a 13-4 run to blow open a 20-point cushion at 49-29.
The Lancers rattled off nine straight points midway into the half. Frankie Davidson was responsible for seven points in a three-minute span, handing the Lancers their largest lead of the game at 65-37 with 8:17 remaining.
Grace went to its bench with several minutes remaining and cruised to the final 19-point margin of victory.
A late highlight came from a 3-pointer by Jaylen Reese, a senior reserve who canned the triple on Senior Day.
Grace finished the game shooting 50 percent from the floor, 38 percent on 3-pointers and 87 percent on free throws. The efficient day for Grace included only nine turnovers, their third-fewest of the season.
Jakob Gibbs led all players with 17 points, adding three assists as well. Cade Gibbs amassed 12 points, 3 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Elijah Malone tallied 11 points, 6 boards and 3 blocks, and Davidson had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal.
Ian Scott had 8 points, 8 boards and 2 assists, and Wadding added six points and four assists.
Grace ends the year with a three-game road trip. The Lancers will play at Goshen and St. Francis next week before ending the regular season at Spring Arbor on Feb. 18.
