WINONA LAKE, Ind. - A stout defensive performance lifted Grace's men's basketball team beyond Huntington 78-59 on Wednesday.

The No. 1-ranked Lancers held Huntington to their lowest-scoring output of the season. Grace remains perfect on the season, improving to 9-0 (3-0 Crossroads League) after beating Huntington, who is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25.

Offensively, Grace was well-balanced with seven players scoring between 8-12 points.

Neither team scored the ball at an efficient rate in the opening half. Grace came up empty on its first six possessions, but the Lancers' defense limited HU to just three points during that span.

Two layups from Gage Sefton helped get Grace on track. Gavin Betten then provided instant offense off the bench, scoring seven points in five minutes.

Cannen Houser drilled a pair of triples, helping Grace to an 8-0 run to gain separation from HU.

The Foresters stayed within range, however, as Grace led by just six at the halftime break (31-25).

Grace shot 41 percent from the floor but held HU to 30 percent shooting. The Lancers' biggest advantage was their bench production, scoring 18 points off the bench. All four substitutes scored in the half, led by seven points from Betten and six from Houser.

Grady Carpenter did his part with five assists before halftime.

The Lancers' attack was much more deadly in the second half. Grace scored on six of its first seven possessions. 

Carpenter was a maestro, dissecting the Foresters with four assists in a three-minute span. Tyler Raasch scored six points during the start.

Within five minutes of the second half beginning, Grace had opened up a commanding 46-29 lead.

The Foresters did their best to recover and trimmed Grace's lead down to 12 (52-40) with 12 minutes remaining.

But the Lancers rattled off 14 points over the next five minutes, pushing Grace ahead by 22.

Grace led by as many as 29, coasting to the final 19-point margin of victory.

The Lancers scored 47 points after halftime, shooting 63 percent as a team in the period.

Grace outrebounded the Foresters by 16 in the second half and had a 37-15 advantage in bench points.

Michael Wellman led Grace in scoring with 12 points, making 4 of 5 from the floor and 2 of 3 on triples.

Carpenter racked up 13 assists, 0 turnovers and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes, and Ian Raasch notched 11 points and 8 boards.

Sefton nearly had a double-double (10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals), Tyler Raasch nabbed 10 points and 6 rebounds, and Houser scored nine points with two assists.

Hunter Walston collected 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, Betten had 9 points, 3 boards and 2 assists, Luke Bricker added 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, and Cole Hayworth scored four points off the bench.

The Lancers will travel to Spring Arbor on Saturday for a 3 p.m. contest. Grace returns home on Friday, Dec. 12 for an early 1 p.m. game against Trinity Christian.