Grace Basketball: Lancers Fall In Overtime
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – It took overtime and a late-game rally from Spring Arbor to beat the Grace College men’s basketball team on Saturday.
The Lancers (9-11, 1-7 Crossroads League) surrendered a late basket from the Cougars to send the game to overtime before falling 93-86.
The teams were hard to separate for a majority of the afternoon. The score was tied 15 times with 22 lead changes. Neither side led by more than seven points from start to finish.
The loss spoiled a career day for Logan Godfrey, who smashed a career high with 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three blocks. He made 9-of-16 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the foul line. Godfrey’s previous best was an 18-point performance against Rochester in November.
In the first half, the lead was never greater than five points. Jaret Sons scored on back-to-back plays to give Grace a five-point edge with 7:44 left in the half.
The Lancers took a 39-38 lead into halftime after Tre Olive hit a free throw in the final seconds. Godfrey scored 11 points to pace Grace in the opening half.
Midway into the second half, the Lancers made a charge that seemed to change the momentum of the contest. Grace scored nine unanswered points to grab a 64-57 lead, keyed by five points from Stephen Halstead.
The Lancers held onto the lead and were still ahead by four with two minutes remaining. But the Cougars (12-8, 4-4 CL) hit a 3-pointer to set up a climatic finish in regulation.
Erik Bowen scored in the paint to give Grace a 76-73 edge approaching the final minute. SAU converted an and-1 to tie the game with 38 seconds, and Halstead scored to give the Lancers a seeming winner with 16 seconds left.
But the Cougars tied the game yet again with just four ticks on the clock to send the game to overtime at 78-78.
Bowen helped Grace get off to a strong start in overtime, scoring the team’s first four points as Grace lead 82-80 with 3:24 remaining. But Bowen fouled out on the next possession, and the Cougars took advantage.
With Bowen out of the game, SAU outscored Grace 13-4 over the final three minutes. The Cougars were particularly efficient at the foul line by making 11 free throws in the extra period.
For the game, both teams shot at a similar percentage. Grace had two more blocks and two fewer turnovers, and SAU held a plus-11 advantage in rebounds.
Halstead scored 15 points with a trio of 3-pointers and two steals, and Tre Olive finished with 14 points, 7 boards and 3 assists.
Bowen tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, and Braxton Linville added four points and seven assists.
Caleb Hogans led the way for the winners with 27 points.
Spring Arbor freshman Paul Marandet, a WCHS product, had 14 points for the Cougars. The point guard hit 5-6 free throw and also had four assists in the win.
The Lancers will host a pair of games next week, including No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday and Taylor on Saturday.
Spring Arbor, which improves to 12-8 overall and goes to 4-4 in league play, hosts Saint Francis Tuesday night.