Graceland Men Remain Unbeaten at Home with Win Over Clarke
LAMONI, Iowa – The Graceland University Yellowjackets extended their home winning streak with a 99-89 victory over Clarke University on Wednesday night at the Morden Center. In a high-scoring Heart of America Athletic Conference battle, Graceland's efficiency on offense and clutch performances pushed the Yellowjackets to 15-3 overall and 11-3 in conference play. Clarke dropped to 3-14 overall and 3-10 in the Heart.
Head coach Todd Lorenson acknowledged the team's effort in a grueling stretch of games. "The second half of the conference season is always a dogfight. In the first half, I thought we struggled defensively. In the second half, we defended much better, but they had some individuals make multiple really tough shots. This being our third game in five days, we just needed to survive and get some time off to regroup."
Graceland shot an impressive 56.1% from the field for the game, including 58.1% in the first half. The Yellowjackets held a slim 44-42 lead at halftime before outscoring Clarke 55-47 in the second half to secure the victory.
Senior forward Cole Bowen led the way for Graceland, recording a game-high 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line. He added seven rebounds and five assists. Lorenson highlighted Bowen's contributions: "Cole's efficiency was outstanding. He's a tough matchup most every night, and he's such a good playmaker that double teams don't bother him."
Freshman guard Micah Lamberth delivered a career performance off the bench, posting a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He also shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Lorenson praised Lamberth: "Micah is so easy to root for. He's a great teammate and has just kept working. It was great to see his patience and effort rewarded."
Sophomore JY Smith contributed 10 points, including two critical three-pointers, and connected on all four of his free throws. Smith reflected on the team's effort after the game: "I felt like this was more of a mental game than physical. We have a lot of guys hurt, and with the stretch of traveling and games we had, we needed to come together and fight this one out. Clarke came to play and had a great start, so credit to them for bringing the juice. We just had to get our legs under us, stay composed, and not only win the physical but mental battle. It feels good to stay undefeated and protect home court."
Senior guard Maijhe Wiley added 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists while shooting 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Senior Carter Brown chipped in 10 points, including two three-pointers, and provided a defensive presence with two blocks and a steal.
Clarke was led by DeMarco Clayton, who scored 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, and Maximiliano Bowman, who added 21 points, including three three-pointers. Despite their efforts, Clarke was unable to overcome Graceland's 44-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Statistical Highlights
- Field Goal Percentage: Graceland 56.1%, Clarke 51.5%
- Three-Point Percentage: Graceland 37.5%, Clarke 42.3%
- Free Throw Percentage: Graceland 72.2%, Clarke 66.7%
- Rebounds: Graceland 33, Clarke 22
- Points in the Paint: Graceland 44, Clarke 24
Graceland also took advantage of its bench, outscoring Clarke's reserves 24-19, and turned in a strong second-half defensive performance to hold off the Pioneers.
Graceland has a much-needed week of rest before returning to action. The Yellowjackets will face Culver-Stockton College next Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.
For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.