DES MOINES, IOWA – The Grand View men's basketball team fell to MidAmerica Nazarene 65-61 on Friday night at home, dropping to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
The opening half saw both teams trade baskets in a tight contest.
Lukas Helms got the Vikings on the board first with a layup to give Grand View a 2-0 lead, and added another to make it 4-2. The Pioneers answered as they tied the game at 4-4, but
Daviyon Gaston scored to push the lead to 6-4. MidAmerica Nazarene continued to battle as they stayed close throughout the period. Helms hit a jumper to give the Vikings an 8-6 lead, then knocked down a three-pointer to extend it to 11-8.
Joe Knutson added a layup assisted by
Jaxson Young to make it 13-10, and
O'Shawn Jones-Winslow scored to push the advantage to 15-10. Young converted a layup to extend the lead to 17-12, and hit a free throw to make it 18-12. Jones-Winslow added another layup to give Grand View a 20-12 advantage. Gaston hit a free throw after a technical foul on the Pioneers to extend the lead to 21-12, and scored a layup to make it 23-15.
Rodell Davis Jr. hit a jumper assisted by
Patrick Worrell to push the lead to its largest at 25-15. However, MidAmerica Nazarene fought back late in the half. The Pioneers closed the period on an 18-5 run, giving the Pioneers a narrow 3 point advantage heading into halftime.
The second half saw the Pioneers take control early. MidAmerica Nazarene scored the first basket to take a 35-30 lead. Young answered with a layup to cut it to 35-32, but the Pioneers extended their lead to 41-34. Helms hit a jumper to cut the deficit to 41-36, and Watters scored to make it 44-38. Young added a layup to bring Grand View within 44-40, and converted a free throw to cut it to 44-41. Helms scored to make it 46-43, and
Riley Edwards hit two free throws to bring the Vikings within 49-45. The game remained tight as Helms scored to cut it to 49-47, and Jones-Winslow knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Worrell to make it 53-50. Gaston added a layup assisted by Helms to bring Grand View within 55-52. Young hit a free throw to cut the deficit to 55-53, and Helms added another to make it 55-54. Helms scored a layup assisted by Worrell to bring the Vikings within 60-56, and Knutson added a layup assisted by Gaston to cut it to 63-58. Worrell hit a free throw to make it 63-59, and Gaston scored to bring Grand View within 63-61 with under a minute remaining. The Pioneers hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the 65-61 victory.
GAME NOTES:
WHATS NEXT?
The Vikings will compete next at home on January 3rd, taking on the Central Methodist Eagles after Christmas break.
