Northwestern Knocks Out Graceland in NAIA First Round

Huntington, IN – The Graceland University Yellowjackets (24-8) saw their season come to an end Friday night in the opening round of the NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament, falling to Northwestern (26-5) by a final score of 99-75. The Yellowjackets struggled to contain a high-powered Red Raiders offense that shot 64.4% from the field and 53.3% from beyond the arc, proving too much to overcome despite a hard-fought effort.

Head coach Todd Lorensen reflected on the season following the game.

"The finality of a season, and for some a career, is never easy. Teams put in so many hours of practice, weights, conditioning, film, and individual workouts that when it ends, it hurts. Our team has so much to be proud of, and I trust that in time our players will feel that and look back on this season with amazing memories and relationships that last a lifetime.

Although our season ended with this game, the body of work this team put in places it among the best in the history of the university. Our thanks go out to everyone who supported us throughout the year."

First half – Northwestern finds early momentum

The opening minutes saw both teams trade baskets before Northwestern's Jesse Van Kalsbeek began to impose his presence inside. Van Kalsbeek finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Red Raiders establish control in the paint.

Graceland got an early spark from Carter Brown, who knocked down two early three-pointers to keep the game close at 8-11. Cole Bowen followed up with a contested mid-range jumper to trim the deficit to one, but Northwestern responded with a 7-2 run behind the perimeter shooting of Jalen Langsy. Langsy buried a deep three to push the lead to 16-10, forcing an early timeout from the Yellowjackets.

Coming out of the timeout, Graceland looked to Darrius Davis inside, and he delivered with back-to-back buckets to pull the Yellowjackets within 16-14. However, Northwestern's efficient ball movement created open looks, leading to a 12-4 run that pushed the Red Raiders' advantage to 28-18 at the 5:30 mark.

Despite a strong defensive effort from Maijhe Wiley, who tallied a steal and a block in the first half, Graceland struggled to contain Alex Van Kalsbeek. Van Kalsbeek finished the first half with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, dominating the mid-range with smooth footwork.

A late three-pointer by Carson Busch cut the deficit to 42-32 at the break, keeping Graceland within striking distance despite Northwestern's 60.0% field goal shooting in the first 20 minutes.

Second half – Northwestern pulls away

Graceland looked to gain momentum early in the second half, but a turnover on the opening possession led to a fast-break layup from Kaleb Booth, extending Northwestern's lead to 44-32.

Bowen continued to fight for the Yellowjackets, hitting a contested jumper and converting an and-one to make it 49-37, but every Graceland run was countered by the Red Raiders' sharp shooting. Northwestern responded with a 13-4 run, fueled by Langsy's perimeter shooting and Van Kalsbeek's interior dominance, stretching the lead to 62-41 with 14:00 to play.

Graceland attempted to mount a comeback behind Aaron James Jr., who knocked down two three-pointers midway through the half, but Northwestern's efficiency proved insurmountable. The Red Raiders shot 69.0% from the field in the second half, including 50.0% from beyond the arc, methodically extending their lead as the game progressed.

The Yellowjackets found contributions from Kevin Cook, who went 3-for-3 from the floor for 7 points, and Davis, who added six second-half points, but Northwestern's offense continued to roll.

As the final minutes ticked away, Graceland's tournament journey came to an end, closing the season with an impressive 24-8 record.

Game statistics

Season conclusion

The Yellowjackets' season ends in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament, but their 24-win campaign is the most regular season wins in program history. With a strong foundation and key returning players, Coach Lorensen and his staff now turn their attention to offseason recruiting, looking to build toward the 2025-26 campaign.

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