Graceland Controls Second Half to Defeat Grand View, 71-60

Lamoni, Iowa – The Graceland University men's basketball team delivered a balanced offensive performance and clamped down defensively in the second half to secure a 71-60 victory over Grand View on Tuesday evening inside the Morden Center. The Yellowjackets (20-4, 16-4 Heart of America Athletic Conference) overcame an early sluggish start and used a late push to outlast the Vikings (13-11, 11-9 Heart).

Game Recap

Despite dealing with a rescheduled game time, Graceland struggled with early energy, but strong free-throw shooting and defensive stops helped avoid an early deficit. The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, with neither side establishing a dominant lead. Darrius Davis and Cole Bowen paced the Yellowjackets, combining for 17 first-half points to push Graceland ahead 39-33 at the break.

Grand View shot 57.7% from the floor in the first half and kept pace with efficient mid-range scoring from Jaxson Young and Jackson Green. However, the Vikings' struggles at the free-throw line (0-for-7) prevented them from gaining an advantage.

Graceland turned up its defensive intensity in the second half, limiting Grand View to just 27 points on 40% shooting. The Yellowjackets extended their lead to double digits midway through the period as Maijhe Wiley and Carson Busch connected on key three-pointers. Down the stretch, Graceland controlled the glass and capitalized on second-chance points, with Davis providing a crucial putback off a missed free throw to maintain momentum.

Stat Leaders

Graceland had four starters in double figures, highlighting its balanced offensive attack:

• Davis led with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, going 8-for-9 at the free-throw line.
• Bowen contributed a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, along with three steals.
• Wiley added 14 points, three rebounds, and two steals, while Micah Lamberth recorded 10 points and five rebounds.
• Busch finished with nine points and two assists, hitting three of his six attempts from beyond the arc.

Grand View was led by Young, who posted 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Green added 12 points and three rebounds. Patrick Worrell contributed eight points and four rebounds, but the Vikings struggled from the perimeter, shooting just 3-for-13 (23.1%) from three-point range.

Team Comparison

• Field Goal Percentage: Graceland 44.2% (23-52), Grand View 54.9% (28-51)
• Three-Point Shooting: Graceland 39.1% (9-23), Grand View 23.1% (3-13)
• Free Throws: Graceland 80.0% (16-20), Grand View 14.3% (1-7)
• Rebounding: Graceland 30, Grand View 22
• Turnovers: Graceland 10, Grand View 13

Coach's Perspective

Graceland head coach Todd Lorenson addressed the team's performance, acknowledging the early energy struggles but highlighting the positives on both ends of the floor:

"There were variables out of our control with the change of time and date, but there's no excuse for coming out as lethargic as we did. Thankfully, we were able to avoid an early deficit from that. We had great balance on the offensive end with four starters in double figures and another at nine points. That's a great sign for our offense."

Lorenson also credited Davis for his game-sealing efforts:

"He was extremely active all night. His offensive rebound putback off the free-throw miss kind of kept things at bay down the stretch."

Next Up

Graceland will look to extend its winning streak on Saturday, February 15, when it hosts Baker University at 4:00 p.m. inside the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

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