WINONA LAKE – In the final game of the 2016-17 season, Grace’s men’s basketball team lost 79-78 to Emmanuel at the NCCAA National Championships.

Grace, who had taken the lead with 10 seconds to play, suffered a game-winning basket at its own expense. Emmanuel’s Austin Greene hit a driving shot with three seconds remaining, and the Lancers’ desperation 3-pointer was off the mark.

The loss ends Grace’s season as the fourth-place finisher at the national tournament. The game also concludes the careers of seniors John Swanson and Tre Olive.

Erik Bowen led all scorers with 27 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three assists, and Olive ended his career with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding three steals as well.

Grace led for the majority of Saturday’s game, but the Lancers (15-20) were never able to put away the Lions (20-12). The largest lead of the game for Grace was only six points.

Grace’s offense went cold midway into the first half. The Lancers went nearly six minutes without making a field goal, and Emmanuel exploited that to take a 28-23 lead.

Grace coach Jim Kessler called a timeout, and the Lancers responded. Grace scored on three straight possessions to go in front and force a timeout from the Lions.

The Lancers continued to hold a slight lead for the final minutes of the half thanks to the team’s dominance on the glass. In the last five minutes alone, Grace scored 11 of its points after getting an offensive rebound to take a 42-40 advantage into halftime.

Overall for the half, Grace outrebounded Emmanuel 26-16. The Lancers had nine offensive rebounds, turning those into 17 second-chance points.

Grace continued to holds its advantage in the first portion of the second half. Olive and Bowen were Grace’s offensive engines to start the half, and the Lancers pulled ahead 62-56 after an Olive fastbreak layup with 9:42 remaining.

But the Lions refused to let Grace out of range. Emmanuel clawed back, scoring six straight with three minutes on the clock to pounce on top 74-69.

But Olive buried a triple, followed by back-to-back scores in the paint from Logan Godfrey and Bowen to give Grace a one-point edge with 1:17 to go.

On Emmanuel’s possession, the Lions hit two free throws to retake the lead. The Lancers turned the ball over, however, while behind 77-76.

But Braxton Linville made the play of the game up to that point, knocking the ball away from the Lions in the backcourt, diving on the loose ball, and assisting Stephen Halstead for the go-ahead layup with just 10 seconds to play.

The Lions responded with a timeout and produced the game-winning play on their final possession.

Bowen’s 27 points came on 13-of-27 shooting. Godfrey also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bowen and Godfrey powered Grace down low to a 43-30 advantage in rebounds.

Linville finished the game with 10 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and Jaret Sons added 5 points, 4 boards and 2 assists.

In the women’s third-place game, top seed Roberts Wesleyan cruised to a 92-76 win over Mid-American Christian. Emily Miller led Roberts with 27 points and 13 boards while Taya Andrews had 17 points and Lucy Covley had 15 points. Jamie Lamb led Mid-American with 18 points and Sarai Rodriguez added 16 points.

In the men’s championship, top seed Colorado Christian pulled away for an 83-74 win against Ohio Christian. Marquis Jackson had pulled Ohio within four points at 76-72 after making a free throw with a minute to go, but Brett Brady responded with a huge three-pointer to give Colorado a seven-point cushion. The game never got closer, and Colorado claimed the NCCAA championship for the second time in three years, winning its first NCCAA title in 2015.

Brady led Colorado with 20 points, Jacob Taylor had 18 points and Ty McGee added 12 points and 16 rebounds. Jackson had a fantastic tournament and added another 29 points while teammate Gary Hoover added 15 points and seven rebounds.

In the women’s championship, Greenville, the four seed, topped Emmanuel 67-48. Greenville, in its first NCCAA appearance since 2007, won its first-ever NCCAA championship in blowout fashion, not leading by less than seven the entire second half, leading by double digits with 5:30 to go and never seeing that lead dip to single digits the rest of the way.

Claire Schmitt led Greenville with 20 points and Meredith Crosier and Morgan St. James each scored 15 points and combined for 12 rebounds. Elise Coberly led Emmanuel with 18 points.