LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern picked up its second win over a ranked Crossroads League team in the span of four days with a wild 78-76 win over No. 13 Grace.
The Fire (11-2) started hot with an 11-2 lead 2:42 into the game and held the Lancers, which came into the game first in the NAIA in field goal percentage at better than 55% to just two of their first 10 from the field. The advantage grew to 15 at the 3:44 mark of the first thanks to a 7-0 run by the Fire.
Reggie Mesidor was responsible for four of those points off the bench with
Sam Brown adding three more off the bench.
"We did some different things game plan-wise that weren't quite normal of what we do, but we were playing some guys on the other side that aren't normal players," said coach
Kevin Lubbers. "That is an unbelievably good team and we made enough plays to win and I'm proud of our guys."
Elijah Malone got Grace back into it, scoring the final five points of the first half to get the Lancers within 10 at 44-34 through 20 minutes.
Grace (13-1) started the second half at a torrid pace, outscoring the Fire 25-8 with just four missed shots in the first 10:13 of the second to take a 59-52 lead. Carter Stoltzfus connected on four 3-pointers to power the comeback.
Riley Minix stepped up in a big way over the final 9:39, scoring 13 of his game-high 27 in the span his team needed him the most. The junior posted his seventh double-double of the season, adding 13 rebounds and made all 11 of his free throws.
"We really needed the free throws down the stretch," said Minix. "I feel like the ball got a little stagnant, but we started to move it more and get back into the flow and trust each other and it came together and we started knocking down shots."
As a team, the Fire were 17-of-18 at the free throw line.
Mesidor's layup with 3:34 remaining put SEU back on top 66-65 and the Fire never relinquished the lead.
Grace attempted a 3-pointer to take the lead with 1:11 left, down 70-68 but it glanced off the rim and into the hands of Minix.
Ralph Diaz added 14 points off the bench, and
Mykhailo Yagodin had 13 points, connecting on three 3-pointers.
"I told our guys to enjoy the game, but we have a really talented Olivet Nazarene team coming in and a good Trinity Christian team after that, and then Spring Arbor, so it just keeps coming," said Lubbers. "We have to come back on Friday and really compete."
The Fire return to action on Friday against Olivet Nazarene at 1 p.m.
