SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Grace's men's basketball team tasted its first defeat of the season with a 83-68 defeat to No. 25 Morningside on Friday.
The game opened up the Crossroads League/GPAC Challenge with Friday's games played at Briar Cliff.
Grace will wrap up the challenge taking on Briar Cliff on Saturday.
No. 1 Grace suffered a poor shooting night in Friday's loss. The Lancers shot just 38 percent from the floor, including 15 percent (4 of 26) from beyond the 3-point line.
The Lancers began the game sluggishly, particularly in terms of ball control. Grace turned the ball over seven times in the first seven minutes.
The Mustangs took advantage to open up a nine-point advantage.
Grace's possession problems were coupled with cold shooting; the Lancers made only one field goal over an eight-minute span.
Grace's defense kept the score within range, however, allowing the Lancers to recover.
The offense finally sparked to life with four minutes remaining in the half. Grace hit four free throws, coupled with a 3-pointer from Gage Sefton, sparking a 7-0 run.
In the final minute, Cannen Houser connected on a triple, and Ian Raasch beat the halftime buzzer with a jump shot.
The Lancers trailed 34-28 at halftime. Grace shot 41 percent from the floor but held Morningside to 35-percent shooting. Grace also dominated the rebounding battle (15-6) but struggled mightily in turnovers (14 to 6).
Grace seemed to have a spark to begin the second half. Michael Wellman made a free throw, and Sefton canned a 3-pointer, slicing Morningside's lead to two.
But the Mustangs unleashed a game-changing run shortly afterwards. Morningside erupted on a 16-1 run over the span of 3:45, charging in front by 18 with 14:04 remaining.
Grace did its best to battle back, but the Lancers were never able to make a significant run. The Lancers' offensive struggles prevented a comeback, and Grace never cut the margin to single digits for the rest of the game.
Houser was a major contributor off the bench, finishing with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.
Raasch led Grace in scoring with 18 points, and Sefton had seven points and four boards.
Luke Bricker grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go along with four points, and Hunter Walston and Wellman each scored six.
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