LAMONI, IOWA – Grand View Men's Basketball was defeated by Graceland on the road, 71-60. The Vikings struggled to keep pace with the Yellowjackets, who found greater success at the free-throw line and from three-point range. Graceland shot 16-for-20 from the charity stripe and knocked down nine three-pointers, while Grand View only attempted 7 free throws and shot 23.1% (3-for-13) from long range, placing them in the deficit.
The contest began with a pair of turnovers from both teams, but
Jackson Green broke the deadlock with the first layup of the game, followed by a jump shot from
Ayden Foster. Graceland responded with a three-pointer and a layup of their own, setting the tone for an aggressive back-and-forth battle that lasted throughout the half.
Jaxson Young scored next, converting an offensive rebound into a put-back layup. Green followed suit with a three-pointer off Foster's assist. Graceland's early offense relied heavily on free throws and layups, with the Yellowjackets shooting eight free throws in the first half, compared to Grand View's zero. The Vikings took a brief four-point lead after a three-pointer from
Ofek Sirkis and two additional baskets from Young. However, Graceland quickly responded, hitting five three-pointers in a four-minute stretch. Despite contributions from Green,
Connor Robertson, Foster, and Young, Grand View trailed 39-33 at halftime. Green, Young, and Foster combined for 24 of the Vikings' 33 points at the break.
The second half debuted a strong defensive effort from the Vikings, as they forced three Graceland turnovers in the first few minutes.
Jonah Leifker and
Patrick Worrell came up with key steals, sparking a brief momentum shift in Grand View's favor. Despite this early defensive pressure, the Vikings struggled to convert on offense and were unable to close the gap. Young led the offense in the second half with 8 points, showing his ability to attack the rim and convert tough shots. Sirkis added 6 points while
Luke Hart gave the Vikings a much-needed spark off the bench, contributing important points and helping bring Grand View within seven points with just nine minutes left. However, despite their efforts, the Vikings were unable to mount a comeback, and Graceland's free-throw success and growing lead proved too much to overcome. Ultimately, Grand View fell to Graceland, 71-60.
GAME NOTES
- Jaxson Young led the Vikings with 16 points and 2 assists.
- Jackson Green added 12 points and 3 rebounds.
- The Vikings shot 54.9% (28-51) from the field, 23.1% (3-13) from three-point range, and 14.3% (1-7) from the free-throw line.
UP NEXT
Grand View will host Missouri Valley University on Saturday, February 15th at 4:00 PM for Senior Night.
