Graceland Men Secure Gritty Win Over MidAmerica Nazarene

LAMONI, Iowa – The Graceland University Yellowjackets edged MidAmerica Nazarene University, 69-66, in a tightly contested Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup Saturday night at the Morden Center. The Yellowjackets (15-3, 11-3 Heart) overcame a cold shooting first half with suffocating defense and dominant rebounding to secure their 11th conference win.

Graceland's defense held the visiting Pioneers (7-11, 6-8 Heart) to 39.6% shooting from the field while limiting second-chance opportunities with a 40-35 rebounding edge. Senior forward Cole Bowen anchored the Yellowjackets, recording a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.

"This was a gritty win for our guys," said head coach Todd Lorenson. "I thought we created a lot of good looks that just didn't go down. Our defense kept us in the game during the first half and allowed us to finish things in the second half. Cole was huge on the glass tonight. We only gave up five offensive boards because of his effort."

The Yellowjackets trailed 32-26 at halftime after shooting just 27.6% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc in the opening half. Darrius Davis led a second-half resurgence, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while converting five of seven field goals after the break.

"It was a hard-fought win," said junior guard Jy Smith. "We made a lot of key plays defensively, even though we didn't shoot the ball well as a team. Next Wednesday, we'll be more in tune."

The contest featured three lead changes and two ties, with neither team establishing dominance early. MidAmerica Nazarene was paced by Gary Clay, who recorded 16 points and seven rebounds, including three three-pointers. Joe Buchanan added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Pioneers.

Graceland found success in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 43-34. The Yellowjackets capitalized on their size and interior presence, scoring 42 points in the paint compared to 22 for MidAmerica Nazarene. Senior guard Carter Brown added eight points and seven rebounds, hitting a key three-pointer midway through the second half to give Graceland momentum.

Freshman guard Micah Lamberth provided a spark off the bench with five points and four rebounds, while sophomore Runey Hernandez chipped in six points, including a critical layup in the closing minutes to extend Graceland's lead.

"We got good production from Micah (Lamberth) and Runey (Hernandez) off the bench, which was much needed," added Lorenson.

The final minute of the game saw Bowen come up clutch, grabbing key defensive rebounds and sinking free throws to seal the victory. Bowen reflected on the team effort postgame: "It was a great, hard-fought team win tonight. Defense was a big key for us, helping us start the offense on the other end. We'll clean some things up and be ready for the next one."

Key Stats

• Field Goal Percentage: Graceland 41.0%, MidAmerica Nazarene 39.6%
• Rebounds: Graceland 40, MidAmerica Nazarene 35
• Points in the Paint: Graceland 42, MidAmerica Nazarene 22
• Turnovers: Graceland 7, MidAmerica Nazarene 12

Graceland's resilience and execution in the final minutes proved critical as the Yellowjackets remain in the hunt for a top seed in the Heart of America Athletic Conference standings.

Up Next

The Yellowjackets will host Clarke University in another Heart of America Athletic Conference clash on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.