Grace College point guard Logan Irwin has been rock solid for the Lancers this season. Grace opens play Thursday in the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Missouri (Photos provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – Logan Irwin’s numbers are almost identical to those of last season.

His contributions though to the success of the Grace College men’s basketball team this year have been much more valuable.

The hard-nosed junior point guard will lead the Lancers into the NAIA Division II National Tournament starting Thursday. Grace, which received an at-large bid to the 32-team field, will face Bellevue (Nebraska) in a first-round game at 11:15 a.m. ET at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. Bellevue, a No. 7 seed, is 28-5.

Irwin, who starred at Whitko High School, has flourished in his second season in the Grace program. He played his first season at NCAA Division I Stetson University before transferring to Grace.

“Logan has just been really solid for us all season,” said Grace College coach Jim Kessler in a phone interview on Monday from Missouri. “He’s been so efficient with his turnovers, only having 17 in conference play. That’s just incredible.

“He’s the bus driver for what we want to do. We wanted him to be consistent and lead us this season and that’s what he has done. He’s got a great basketball IQ and he’s matured and understands our league better after a year in it last season.”

Irwin has led Grace to a 21-10 mark, which included a fine 11-7 record in one of the toughest small conferences in the country in the Crossroads League.  He is the top scorer at 13.5 points-per-game and leads the team in assists at 4.5 per outing and in 3-pointers with 44. Irwin earned second-team All-League honors after having 77 assists and 17 turnovers in 18 league games.

“Logan has improved his perimeter shooting this year,” said Kessler. “He’s worked hard in that area and to coming up with a pull up jumper too.”

Irwin, who scored 2,230 career points at Whitko to rank 14th all-time in state boys basketball history, points to his leadership this year.

“My leadership is better this year because I’m more comfortable with the guys,” said Irwin also in a phone interview while on the road Monday. “It’s helped a lot that now I know the guys and have earned their respect. They know there’s a reason when I’m yelling at them and they take it well.”

“With the style we play (defense and lower possessions), taking care of the ball is a big part of the game for me. As far as my shooting, I’m a big repetition guy and my game evolved coming to college as a 5-10 guy.”

Kessler says there is another quality to love about his point guard.

“Logan is tough as nails,” Kessler remarked. “They don’t come any tougher. His demeanor never changes, If he gets upset, he just plays even harder. He’s a dream to coach.”

Kessler says the approach to the national tourney is a very simple one.

“We just need to go play,” said the longtime Grace mentor. “We just need to be loose and positive. That’s when we’ve played our best this season. We earned this bid with our body of work this season. Our league has us prepared for this.”

The Grace roster this season has two Irwins. Keaton, who played at Huntington North High School, is a freshman guard for the Lancers.

“It’s been good for me,” said Logan about going against his younger brother in practices this season. “He knows how to push my buttons. We’ve had a couple of shoving matches, but he makes me a better player.”

Logan Irwin, who starred at Whitko High School, leads the Lancers in scoring, assists and 3-pointers.