UPLAND, Ind. – The Grace College men’s basketball team was held well below its’ prolific scoring average in a 75-66 defeat at Taylor in the conference opener on Tuesday night.

The Lancers (5-2; 0-1 Crossroads League) struggled with their shooting touch, especially from distance with a 6-of-21 performance from the 3-point line. Grace entered the contest averaging 100 points-per-game.

Greg Miller did his best to lift the Lancers to a win in their Crossroads League season debut, but his 25 points and 12 rebounds were not enough.

The Trojans shocked the 16th-ranked Lancers in the first half, opening up a 26-16 lead. Try as they might, the Lancers were unable to produce enough offense and trailed 36-26 after one half. Grace’s 26 points was the fewest output in a half this season. The team’s previous low was 40.

Grace stayed within striking distance of Taylor (5-3; 1-0 CL) throughout the entirety of the second half, never trailing by more than nine points.

The Lancers trimmed Taylor’s lead to two points twice over the final three minutes – on a fastbreak basket from Caleb Featherston and on a free throw by Niko Read. But the Trojans had an answer each time at the foul line. Taylor made nine free throws over the final 2:36 to ice the upset.

Read finished with 12 points and six boards in defeat, and Brandon Vanderhegghen added 11 points. Logan Irwin had eight points before fouling out, and Featherston chipped in six points.

As a team Grace shot just 37 percent from the floor, including 29 percent from the foul line.

The Lancers will try to regroup before their next game – a clash at home against No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan on Dec. 3.