WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team continued its high-scoring start to the year with a 98-56 win over Briar Cliff on Saturday.
The win improves the No. 7 Lancers to 3-0 on the young season, completing a perfect weekend in the Crossroads/GPAC Challenge; Grace also knocked off No. 19 Morningside on Friday night.
Ian Raasch helped Grace off to a fast start, scoring Grace's first five points including an and-1.
Gavin Betten continued Grace's surge with an immediate jolt off the bench. The freshman canned two 3-pointers and scored a layup in transition as the Lancers jumped ahead 15-2.
Midway into the half, Grace extended its lead further with an 8-0 run. Tyler Raasch had a part in most of the run, scoring four points and making a fullcourt outlet pass to his brother Ian for an uncontested layup.
A basket from Gage Sefton capped off the run as Grace led 31-12 with 7:24 left in the half.
The lead hovered around that margin for the rest of the half, and the Lancers strolled into halftime with a comfortable 48-30 advantage on the scoreboard.
Ian Raasch had 15 points in the opening half with Betten adding 10.
Grace immediately continued its potent offense to begin the second half, scoring the first eight points after halftime.
Tyler Raasch set the tone with a steal and thunderous fastbreak dunk 10 seconds into the second half. He dunked again two minutes later, accepting a fullcourt pass from Grady Carpenter and rising for a one-handed jam.
Grace eventually built a 30-point cushion with eight minutes remaining after a jumper from Carpenter.
The Lancers began subbing out their starters midway into the second half, allowing the team to utilize its full bench.
Overall, 12 players scored a point for Grace. The Lancers had 51 bench points, nearly topping Briar Cliff's total. Grace's 60 points in the paint did outscore the Chargers' team total.
The Lancers were led by Ian Raasch's 19 points, followed by Betten with 17.
Cole Hayworth tallied 11 points off the bench, Tyler Raasch had 10, and Hunter Walston and Sefton each scored eight.
Cannen Houser and Isaac Schultz tied with five points, Luke Bricker chipped in four, and Bryce Sefton and Caleb Herrold scored two points apiece.
The Lancers will return home on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. meeting with St. Xavier.
