Moore Era Opens With Impressive Win
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s men’s basketball team started the season in style with a 77-66 win over Lincoln Christian on Friday.
The Lancers (1-0) won the first game of Scott Moore’s head coaching career at Grace, taking over from retired NAIA Hall of Famer Jim Kessler.
Charlie Warner was brilliant offensively. He scored a game-high 26 points, making 9-of-10 from the floor. Warner hit 5-of-6 from the 3-point line and was 3-of-4 from the foul line in an efficient performance.
Grace started the opener sluggishly, committing three turnovers in the first three minutes. The Lancers found their footing shortly after, sparked by Warner.
Grace rattled off 11 points, aided by a pair of triples from Warner. Jaret Sons also had a highlight reel moment, stealing a pass and racing fullcourt for a thunderous dunk during the run.
The Lancers led by as many as 14 and went into halftime with a 37-26 advantage.
Warner and Matt Jennings scored 11 points in the half. Grace shot 43 percent from the floor in the half while holding the Red Lions to 25 percent.
The Red Lions (0-2) refused to fade in the second half, however. LCU made several threatening runs after halftime, but Grace stood firm each time.
Grace’s lead dwindled to six at 56-50 with nine minutes remaining, but the Lancers recovered with eight unanswered points. Warner and Sons each scored a bucket during the run, and Martin Schiele also hit a triple.
The Red Lions made another push, pulling to within 66-58 with 2:35 on the clock. But another timely 3-pointer from Warner, his fifth trey of the night, helped give Grace separation. The Lancers coasted to an 11-point win.
For the game, Grace shot 49 percent overall and 44 percent from beyond the arc. The Lancers committed 21 turnovers but held a plus-11 edge in rebounding.
Sons nearly had a double-double with 8 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists, and Jennings amassed 19 points, 4 assists and 4 boards. Jennings was playing his first game in over a year after suffering an injury before the start of last season.
Myles Johnson tallied five points and seven boards in his collegiate debut, Eddie Gill IV had 3 points, 2 assists and 3 steals, and Haden Deaton added nine points and five rebounds. Hank Smith also played in his first college game off the bench.
The Lancers end their season-opening tournament on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against Northwestern Ohio.