GRINNELL, Iowa — The Grinnell College men’s basketball team held off Lawrence University on Friday night and posted a 104-95 Midwest Conference victory at Darby Gymnasium.
Griffin Lentsch scored 19 points to lead five Grinnell (8-4, 3-4 MWC) players in double figures.
Erik Borresen had a double-double with 27 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to pace Lawrence (6-6, 5-2). Chris Siebert added 20 points and a team-high five assists.
Grinnell pulled away late in the first half, turning a four-point lead into a 15-point edge in less than 90 seconds. The Pioneers led 59-44 at the half.
Grinnell maintained that edge and built the lead to 20 at 91-71 with 7:12 remaining. Lawrence began chipping away at the lead and went on a 19-8 run, capped by Tyler Crisman’s 3-pointer, to cut the lead to 98-90 with 43 seconds left.
Grinnell went 6-for-8 from the foul line in the final 40 seconds to secure the win.
Lawrence was plagued by too many turnovers (23) and poor shooting from the field and the foul line. The Vikings were 35-for-62 from the field (56.5 percent), but that is not extraordinary against Grinnell. Lawrence also connected on only 24 of 37 free throws (64.9 percent).
The Vikings are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Monmouth College.