Matt Jennings led Grace with 26 points in its road win at Siena Heights. InkFreeNews file photo

By Josh Neuhart
Grace College Sports Information

ADRIAN, Mich. – Grace’s men’s basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season thanks to an 81-70 victory at Siena Heights on Tuesday.

Matt Jennings led all players with 26 points, shooting 10 of 14 from the floor while adding six rebounds and four assists.

The Lancers started Tuesday’s game well, scoring nine unanswered points over the first 2:33.

Midway into the first half, Grace earned a double-digit lead. But the Saints refused to let the game get out of hand.

With less than three minutes remaining in the first half, Myles Johnson scored in the paint to give Grace a 38-31 lead. That was the final points of the half for Grace.

The Saints ripped off eight straight points to end the half, including a pair of triples in the final minute. SHU stunned Grace to claim a 39-38 lead at halftime.

Grace shot a sizzling 55 percent from the floor in the first half, all the more impressive considering the Lancers were 1 of 9 from beyond the arc (11 percent). Jennings’s 12 points at the break led all players.

The Saints carried their momentum into the start of the second half, slowly building up their lead. With 13 minutes remaining in regulation, SHU led 56-48.

The next five minutes changed the game. Grace’s defense locked down the Saints, allowing them to score just two points over a five-minute span.

Grace took advantage with a 15-2 run to charge into the lead. Haden Deaton scored four quick points to cut the deficit in half; a few minutes later, Cade Gibbs buried a 3-pointer to give the Lancers the lead for good.

Jakob Gibbs followed that up with four straight points as Grace moved ahead 63-58.

The Lancers were not done, however. Grace scored on five consecutive possessions to grab a 12-point lead with 3:30 remaining. Overall, Grace went on a 24-4 run over a 10-minute period.

The Saints could not produce a rally in response as Grace coasted to an 11-point win.

For the game Grace shot 52 percent from the floor compared to 40 percent for Siena Heights.

The Lancers struggled from deep (2 of 15 from beyond the arc) but countered that by earning 27 free throws. Grace also had 11 offensive rebounds during a plus-15 advantage on the glass.

Cade Gibbs shot 5 of 7 from the floor for 16 points to go along with three boards and two steals. Frankie Davidson registered a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block.

Deaton finished with 10 points, 6 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals, and Johnson tallied nine points and four rebounds.

The Lancers will host the annual Hoops for Hope on Friday and Saturday, including the first game on Friday at 7 p.m. and the finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. The tournament raises funds for cancer care in Kosciusko County.