FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Grace's men's basketball team continued its hot start to the year, collecting another win on Saturday.

The No. 4 Lancers won their seventh straight game to begin the season, beating St. Francis 109-76 on the road.

As usual, Grace used balanced production to power its offense. Grace put five players in double-digit scoring; seven players scored at least seven points. Saturday marks Grace's third time topping the century mark this season.

Grace led for most of the first half, but the Cougars battled to keep the score close.

The Lancers produced the first six points of the game thanks to scores from Hunter Walston, Gage Sefton and Ian Raasch.

USF scored its first basket almost three minutes into the game.

Midway into the half, Grady Carpenter scored five quick points to push the Lancers' advantage to 19-12.

But USF rallied with a 13-4 run, claiming their only lead of the game at 25-23.

Grace's defense responded, holding USF without another made field goal for three minutes. Four points from Gavin Betten helped Grace regain a five-point edge.

Grace made another push late in the half; Sefton scored five points, and Cole Hayworth threw down a dunk to give Grace a 10-point lead with 1:34 remaining.

The Lancers came up empty on their final three possessions but still led 48-41 at halftime.

Grace shot 53 percent from the floor compared to 35 percent for USF. Both teams struggled from distance, combining to shoot 7 of 30 on 3-point attempts (23 percent).

Sefton helped Grace to a strong beginning in the second half, scoring the first Lancers' first six points.

Five minutes into the second half, a triple from Sefton pushed Grace's lead to 17 (64-47).

Grace's cushion ballooned into the 20s by the midway mark of the second half as Grace's bench flexed its muscles.

The Lancers began removing their starters with five minutes to go in regulation. Grace's bench did not allow USF to score for the final 3:32 of the game, and the Lancers rolled away to the final 33-point margin of victory. Bryce Sefton ended Grace's scoring with a triple on the Lancers' final possession.

Grace finished the game shooting 52 percent overall while holding USF to 34 percent. Grace racked up 68 points in the paint, had an 18-2 lead in points off turnovers and a 29-3 advantage in fastbreak points.

Sefton amassed a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds (in 23 minutes), shooting 8 of 11 from the floor and 2 of 3 on 3-pointers.

Betten tallied 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, and Ian Raasch produced 18 points and six boards.

Walston had 15 points with four boards, Michael Wellman notched 12 points with three boards, and Carpenter had 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

Tyler Raasch added 7 points, 3 blocks and 2 boards, and Hayworth chipped in 4 points, 4 boards and 2 assists.

The Lancers have one game next week, traveling to IU Columbus on Tuesday.

Grace returns home on Dec. 3 for a league matchup with Huntington.