No. 25 Yellowjackets Claim First Outright Heart Title with 92-46 Win Over Baker
LAMONI, Iowa — Graceland University secured its first outright Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season championship Saturday with a 92-46 victory over Baker (Kan.) inside the Morden Center, earning the program's first No. 1 seed in the upcoming Heart Conference Tournament.
Graceland improved to 23-5 overall and 17-3 in conference play, while Baker fell to 11-17 overall and 9-11 in the Heart.
The Yellowjackets established control early, using half-court execution and perimeter efficiency to build a 40-13 lead at the break. Graceland shot 40.7 percent from the field in the opening half and converted 9-of-21 attempts from 3-point range. Graceland's suffocating defense limited the Wildcats to an abysmal 5-of-29 shooting (17.2 percent) in the first 20 minutes of the contest.
Carson Busch led Graceland with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Josh Sanderson added 19 points on 5-of-10 from 3-point range, and Cole Bowen recorded 15 points and 16 rebounds, anchoring the defensive glass and controlling second-chance opportunities.
As a team, Graceland shot 47.4 percent from the field (27-of-57) and 45.5 percent from 3-point range (20-of-44). The Yellowjackets assisted on 20 field goals and outrebounded Baker 44-28. Graceland also produced 32 bench points and held a 46-point margin at its largest lead.
"Today was one of those games where we were incredibly efficient on both ends of the floor," Head Coach Todd Lorensen said. "Defensively, we kept ourselves in five-on-five situations and forced them to take consistent tough shots. On the offensive end, we were generating quality looks consistently, and when we do that, we can expect to make a fair amount of them — which we did today."
Baker was limited to 25.0 percent shooting overall and 7-of-31 from long range. The Wildcats were led by Myles Tucker's 15 points. Graceland forced difficult perimeter attempts throughout the contest and limited paint touches, allowing just 12 points in the paint.
The Yellowjackets opened the game much how they have all season long, playing inside-out basketball and getting contributions up and down their lineup. Josh Sanderson connected on a 3-pointer on the opening possession, and Busch followed with multiple perimeter makes as Graceland built a double-digit advantage midway through the first half. Bowen's activity on the glass generated second-chance opportunities and free-throw attempts, helping extend the margin to an overwhelming 27 points before halftime.
In the second half, Graceland maintained spacing and tempo, shooting 53.3 percent from the field. The Yellowjackets converted 11-of-23 from 3-point range after the break and continued to share the ball effectively.
"We continue to show great balance on the offensive end with four guys in double figures and two others a basket away from double figures," Lorensen said. "Carson and Josh both shot it well, but it was a byproduct of their teammates finding them shooting opportunities."
Kaamil Domingo added nine points off the bench on 3-of-3 shooting, and Tyson Shaw contributed eight points and three assists in 10 minutes. Max Black and Sam Ellis each connected from beyond the arc in the second half as Graceland stretched the lead beyond 40.
Bowen's 16 rebounds highlighted a defensive effort that limited Baker to one possession on most trips. Graceland finished with nine second-chance points and 12 points off turnovers.
"Micah's stat line doesn't jump out at you, but he was dynamic on the defensive end as we mixed up our coverages throughout the game," Lorensen said.
With the victory, Graceland secured the outright Heart Conference championship for the first time in program history, claiming the No. 1 seed in the Heart Tournament. The Yellowjackets will host No. 8 seed Peru State in the quarterfinal round.
Graceland returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. CST against Peru State in the Heart Tournament Quarterfinal at the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.
For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.
