The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team nearly pulled off an upset of top-seeded Grace College (Ind.) on Friday night in Winona Lake, Ind., but ultimately fell just short, 89-85 in the NCCAA Div. I Midwest Region Final. The loss snaps Lancaster Bible's nine-game win streak, and sends the Chargers to 11-3 overall this season.
 
Grace, which earned a bid to the NCCAA Division I National Tournament with the victory, improved to 18-11 overall this season. Lancaster Bible will now wait and see if they earn an at-large selection to the NCCAA Division I National Tournament, which will also be hosted by Grace. Seeding and selections will be announced on Saturday evening, with the tournament set to begin on Wednesday in Winona Lake, Ind.
 
How it Happened: A night after the Chargers offense took a bit to get going, Lancaster Bible came out firing on Friday, as baskets from Tyler Hilton, Adam Stoltzfus, and Tyler Norris gave the team six early points in the first 2:48 of the game. The only trouble was Grace's equally as potent offense, and Haden Deaton's jumper just under three minutes into the game gave the host Lancers a 9-6 lead.
 
The Lancers used a quick 7-0 run to build a 16-8 lead, but five straight points from Lancaster Bible sophomore Ethan Beachy cut the Chargers' deficit to 16-13 with 14:31 remaining in the half. Another quick scoring spirt from Grace sent their lead to 27-15 three minutes later, but Lancaster Bible answered again, and Seth Beers' 3-pointer at the midway point of the half cut Grace's lead to 28-22.
 
Lancaster Bible used a 7-0 run of its own over a two minute span to close the gap to 32-29, as a jumper from Grant Sareyka in transition capped the run. Grace would eventually build its lead back to 10 on two different occasions however, but the Chargers had one more run at the end of the half thanks to Ethan Beachy. Trailing, 50-40 with 1:57 to play, Beachy scored Lancaster Bible's last nine points of the frame, and the Chargers' 9-1 run sent them to the locker room trailing by just two, 51-49.
 
Lancaster Bible scored the first four points of the second half, and took its first lead of the game thanks to two free throws from Britton Beachy 54 seconds into the frame. Grace took the lead back and kept a small advantage for nearly 10 minutes, before opening a nine-point lead, 77-68, with 9:26 remaining.
 
Grace would eventually lead 82-72 with 6:35 remaining, but like they have done all season, the Chargers defense clamped down, and began to chip away at the deficit. Lancaster Bible used an 8-0 run over a 3:29 span, as Ethan Beachy, Jordan Shewbridge, and Andrew Zentner had baskets for the Chargers. A 3-pointer by Grace restored its five-point lead, but Ethan Beach hit another jumper in the paint, and Hilton hit one-of-two free throws with 1:12 to play to bring the Chargers to within two, 85-83.
 
After two free throws from Grace, Zentner took the ball in the paint and converted a layup after a nice move to the basket, and the Chargers trailed 87-85 with 58 ticks to play. After a good defensive possession by Lancaster Bible, Deaton hit a difficult fall-away jumper from the free throw line with less than 30 seconds to play to give the Lancers an 89-85 lead. Lancaster Bible missed two chances on the other end, the Grace earned the Midwest Region crown.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot 45.8 percent (33-of-72) from the floor, including 40 percent (8-of-20) from 3-point range…The Chargers shot just 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the free throw line…Grace shot 60.7 percent (34-of-56) from the field, but just 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from 3-point range…The Lancers shot 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the free throw line…Grace led the Chargers, 34-30 in points in the paint, but Lancaster Bible held a sizable 27-9 lead in points off turnovers…Ethan Beachy led the Chargers with 19 points, and also added four rebounds, and three steals…Beachy was 8-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range…Zentner added 13 points, five boards, and three blocks, while Hilton had 12 points and four rebounds…Seth Beers chipped in with nine points and three assists, while Adam Stoltzfus and Sareyka added eight points each…Shewbridge finished with five points, a team-high six assists, and four rebounds…Jake Wadding had a game-high 22 points to lead Grace.
 
News & Notes: Friday marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams in men's basketball action…The loss is the first for Lancaster Bible since a 75-60 setback against Salisbury on Feb. 12…Ethan Beachy's 19 points are a career-best, as are his eight field goals…Zentner has scored in double figures in eight of Lancaster Bible's 14 games this season…Lancaster Bible's 68.8 percent free throw mark was its lowest since the Chargers shot 66.7 percent in a 65-60 win at St. Mary's (Md.) on Feb. 9…Friday was the third straight game the Chargers have had 33 field goals, and the sixth time this season Lancaster Bible has converted 33 or more field goals in a game.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible will await its fate as an at-large selection to the NCCAA National Tournament, and will play on Wednesday should they receive a bid…Stay tuned to lbcchargers.com for the most up-to-date schedule and information.