NAIA BRACKET - KANSAS CITY

WINONA LAKE, Ind. - For the second straight year, Grace's men's basketball team is making a trip to Kansas City in March.

The Lancers (30-3) racked up their 12th straight win with a 72-61 victory over Madonna on Wednesday in the NAIA National Championships - Second Round (presented by Ballogy).

Grace will advance to the NAIA's final site for the tournament in Kansas City, joining the other 15 teams for the remainder of the bracket.

The No. 1 seed Lancers will face off with No. 5 seed Freed-Hardeman on Tuesday at 3 p.m. (central time) in the Round of 16. The Kansas City portion of the bracket will be held from March 13-18 at the historic Municipal Auditorium.

Grace has now won 30 games for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1991-92. The Lancers are enjoying their best record ever as well with a 30-3 mark.

Jakob Gibbs poured in a game-high 24 points — his second straight NAIA game with 20-plus points.

The Lancers got by the Crusaders despite Grace shooting its third-worst percentage from the floor all season (43 percent). Grace also made just three 3-pointers (21 percent), their second-fewest of the season.

But Grace used its physical play and relentless attacks to the rim to score 42 paint points.

The teams traded hoops to begin the game as a physical battle ensued on the court. Both teams tried to assert themselves physically in the first half.

Frankie Davidson had a triple and a dunk to jumpstart the hosts after the tipoff as Grace pulled ahead 9-4.

But Grace's offense hit a dry spell over the next several minutes; the Lancers scored just three more points over the ensuing 7:25, allowing the Crusaders to propel in front 19-12.

Grace began to find its rhythm to end the half, however. The Lancers attacked quickly on the break and powerfully in the post. 

Jake Wadding scored three quick points, and Carter Stoltzfus buried two timely triples to continue Grace's momentum.

With three minutes left in the half, Jakob Gibbs scored on back-to-back plays. His second hoop came from a steal and score, where he came up with an interception, raced down the court, scored and was fouled to hand Grace a 34-32 lead.

Grace continued to roll, tallying five more points over the final 71 seconds to charge ahead 39-33 at halftime. The Lancers ended the half on a 12-1 run.

Neither side shot particularly well in the first half with each team under 45 percent. Madonna struggled mightily from deep, making 1 of 12 from beyond the arc. But the Crusaders scored 22 paint points (of its 33 total points).

Grace spurted in front by seven in the opening minutes of the second half and seemed to have Madonna on its heels. 

But the Lancers were held to just two points over the next six minutes; Grace missed a number of shots in the paint, allowing the Crusaders to even the score at 50-50.

Grace tried again to pull away shortly afterward; Gibbs scored nine points in a furious flurry, and Ian Scott threw down a dunk in transition as the Lancers led 60-52 with six minutes to play.

But the Lancers hit another lull on offense thanks to three straight turnovers. Grace's defense stepped up, however, refusing to let the Lancers surrender the lead.

Gibbs scored a timely layup with 3:12 to play, but Madonna responded with an and-1 to trim the Lancers' cushion to three with 2:54 on the clock.

Malone converted in the paint on Grace's next possession, and Wadding scored a fastbreak layup after a MU turnover to increase Grace's lead.

The Crusaders were forced to foul down the stretch. Grace, who did not shoot well from the foul line overall in the game, sank enough free throws over the final two minutes to ice the win.

Grace made 6 of 8 from the charity stripe over the final 1:30 of regulation to secure the win. For the game they shot 62 percent from the free throw line (21 of 34).

Gibbs shot 10 of 15 overall from the field for his 24 points, adding four rebounds and two assists. Malone was his usual dominant force with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists, all while drawing nine fouls. 

Stoltzfus amassed 9 points, 6 assists, 5 steals and 4 rebounds, and Davidson had nine points and four rebounds. 

Cade Gibbs pulled down eight rebounds and passed out two assists, Wadding had 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, and Ian Scott had 5 points, 3 boards and 2 blocked shots.