The Wright State Lakers traveled to Grand Rapids, Michigan to for their final regular season game of the year against the Grace Bible College Tigers. Grace Bible is ranked #4 in the country for the NCCAA. The Lakers and Tigers started the game in a back and forth affair. Jordan Gorman started th game hot for the Lakers scoring 14 of his game high 26 points in the first half, Chaz Painter also scored all 8 of his points in the first half. The Tigers used three straight three pointers late in the first half to push their narrow lead over the Lakers. Unfortunately the young Lakers went scoreless the last four minutes of the first half. Grace Bible did a great job establishing their big men inside in the first half as they took a 51-40 lead over the Lakers.

The second half the Lakers scored their first possession from an Isaac Clay jumpshot but the Lakers would go on another five minute scoring drought and the Tigers made the Lakers pay as they continued to build their lead. The young road squad could not get any closer than 17 the rest of the game. Quincy Green was the other source of consistent offense for the Lakers as he put in 14 points and nailed three trey balls. Gorman finished with 26 points including nailing six threes. Grace Bible used four players in double figures to defeat the Lakers 101-68. The Lakers finish their regular season 12-18, 7-2 in USCAA play. The 12 wins are most for the Lakers since 2008-2009. The Wright State Lakers now will wait until Tuesday to see if they earn an at large bid to the USCAA DII National Tournament.

Inside the Box Score:

• Gorman's 26 points and six threes ties his career high 
• After grabbing 7 offensive rebounds in the first half the Lakers only managed 2 offensive rebounds in the second half. Grace Bible used 16 offensive rebounds to overpower the Lakers on the glass. The Tigers grabbed 47 total rebounds compared to the Lakers 31.
• Lakers turned it over 21 times the most for the Lakers since November 29th against Ohio Dominican.
• The Tigers hit 12/29 threes compared to the Lakers 10/31 from three. It was the seventh time the Lakers hit double digit threes in the season.

What Coach Says:

Coach Richard Westerlund said this about the game, "We obviously would have liked to finish our season better than we did. First half we were better and really attacking gaps of their zone, but our defense was a problem all night. Grace Bible shot 50% from the field and you're not going to win too many games with that kind of defense. The second half we went away from what worked for us offensively. Grace Bible is a really good program. They've been to final four for the NCCAA 10 straight years. In order to beat this team especially in their gym we have to be mentally locked in the entire time." On what's next for the program, "Now we have to wait and see if we get a bid for the national tournament. We really would love the opportunity to compete in the national tournament. We have a resume worthy of a bid, now we have to hope the committee thinks the same thing. If we do not get in it just means we have to focus on our offseason and keep changing our best. I love this team and I am excited about what's in store for this team."

What's Next:

The USCAA DII National Tournament Selection Show is Tuesday 5:30p. The show can be viewed here: http://basketball.theuscaa.com/2018_Championships/Bid_Video_Release