GU Stays Hot, Extends Win Streak to Six with Convincing Road Win
DES MOINES, Iowa — November 25, 2025 — The Graceland University Yellowjackets continued their dominant stretch to open Heart of America Athletic Conference play, defeating Grand View University, 83–69, Tuesday night at Sisam Arena. With the win, Graceland improves to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play, while Grand View drops to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in the Heart.
The Yellowjackets led wire-to-wire behind a balanced scoring attack, connecting on 54.9% from the field and 52.6% from beyond the arc. They also knocked down 81% of their free throws (17-of-21) and limited Grand View to just 31.6% shooting from deep.
Carson Busch led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 6-of-7 from three-point range, capping a performance that showcased his evolution as one of the league's most consistent offensive threats. He added two assists and committed just one turnover in 32 minutes.
Cole Bowen anchored the interior, tallying 18 points on 4-of-6 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the line. The forward also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists, demonstrating his all-around impact on both ends of the court.
Deundra Roberson added 10 points and a team-high four steals, creating defensive disruption that led directly to transition opportunities. Runey Hernandez contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, while Josh Sanderson and Tyson Shaw each knocked down key three-pointers off the bench, contributing to the team's 18 total bench points.
As a unit, Graceland won the rebounding battle 26-24, but more critically outscored Grand View 36-18 in the paint, a reflection of their efficient offensive execution and ability to convert inside.
"It was a really good win for us heading into Thanksgiving break," said Graceland Head Coach Todd Lorensen. "Grand View has multiple threats which makes defending them challenging, but I thought we did a very good job of that tonight."
Defensively, the Yellowjackets held Grand View to just 45.3% shooting, limiting their second-chance opportunities and capitalizing on key stops in both halves. The Vikings' leading scorer, Daviyon Gaston, finished with 23 points, but needed 17 field goal attempts to get there, as Graceland's rotating defensive coverage disrupted rhythm throughout the contest.
Coach Lorensen praised Busch's impact on the outcome, stating: "Well, we are well past him surprising people now that he's in his third year in the league, but of course it was great to have Carson play the way he did tonight. He consistently gets to good spots offensively to score it, and when he's making shots, he becomes very challenging to defend. On top of that, he rarely makes mistakes on the defensive end."
The Yellowjackets opened the game on a 12–8 run and never looked back, building a nine-point halftime lead (45–36) before stretching it to double digits midway through the second half. A Carson Busch triple with 1:23 left pushed the lead to 13, and a late three-pointer by Shaw sealed the deal with under 30 seconds remaining.
Lorensen also credited his team's growing offensive versatility. "What's really encouraging is that we continue to have different players have big nights. Any given night we could have a different guy go for 20+ points. That's extremely important over a long season because you're not going to play your best every single night."
With the victory, Graceland stays undefeated in conference play and continues to build early momentum in a highly competitive Heart of America race. This marks six consecutive victories for the Yellowjackets, a stretch defined by efficient offense, disruptive defense, and a deep bench contribution.
"It'll be nice to have a few days to let our bodies as well as our minds relax a little bit," Lorensen added. "With finals week looming, it'll be important that we're both physically and mentally refreshed as we have four big games before the Christmas break."
Up next, Graceland returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 3, when they host Clarke University in a Heart of America conference matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST inside the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa.
For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.