WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team produced a convincing 97-61 win over Goshen on Saturday.
The No. 1 Lancers extended their season-opening winning streak to 24, maintaining their stance as the only undefeated men's college basketball team in America (24-0, 14-0 Crossroads League).
Grace was effective in most every metric, producing 29 assists on just 10 turnovers. The team shot 53 percent from the floor while outrebounding Goshen 49-33.
The Maple Leafs (0-24, 0-14 CL) were held to 37 percent shooting, including 3 of 18 from beyond the arc (17 percent).
Eleven players scored a point during Grace's win despite no player seeing more than 21 minutes of action. Grace boasted a balanced scoring spread with seven players scoring between 7-16 points.
The Lancers scored the first six points of the game, including the first two baskets from Cade Gibbs.
The Maple Leafs battled back, however, climbing in front 17-16 thanks to a pair of 3-pointers.
Grace countered with eight straight points to take the lead for good. Brett Sickafoose and Brycen Graber each canned a triple to push Grace ahead.
The Lancers' offense turned red-hot as the half continued. Grace roared ahead on the back of a furious 26-4 run, attacking in transition with great success.
Grace scored on nine straight possessions during the final stint, climbing in front by 27 after a fastbreak score from Jake Wadding.
The Lancers strolled into halftime with a formidable 50-24 lead. Grace shot 18 of 29 from the floor (62 percent) and made 5 of 10 from the 3-point arc.
Grace was never threatened in the second half. The lead eventually blossomed to 36 at 83-47 after the Lancers scored 11 straight points. Ian Scott, Ian Raasch and Gage Sefton combined for all of the points during the run.
The Lancers began to take out their starters with 12 minutes left in the game, going entirely to their bench with nine minutes to go.
Scott provided a late exclamation point with a 3-pointer and a pair of thunderous dunks.
Grace led by as many as 40 en route to the final 97-61 scoreline.
Cade Gibbs led Grace with 16 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. Elijah Malone tallied 15 points, 8 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks, and Scott racked up 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in 18 minutes.
Graber nearly had a double-double with 9 points, 8 boards and 3 steals, and Carter Stoltzfus had 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Raasch poured in 12 points in 12 minutes, Jakob Gibbs scored eight points, Wadding added 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and Marcus Davidson had four points with one steal.
The Lancers are on the road on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. meeting with Huntington.
Grace's next home game is Saturday, Feb. 17, against rival Bethel. The women's game will tip off at 1 p.m. with the men to follow at 3 p.m.
