GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's men's basketball team celebrated its final home game of the season in a big way Wednesday night, thumping Knox College 116-84 at Darby Gymnasium.
Luke Yeager '15 had a game-high 28 points for the Pioneers, who moved to 11-6 in the Midwest Conference and 13-9 overall.
Jack Taylor '15 added 24 points and six rebounds,
Julian Marx '17 scored 15 points and
Tague Zachary '15 and
Braedon Bayer '18 each scored 12.
Zachary also blocked five shots, Bayer added seven assists and four steals and
Jacob Ekstrand '18 had three steals.
After Knox opened the scoring, Yeager hit a 3-pointer, Taylor a layup, Marx a trey and Bayer a 3-ball to push the hosts ahead 11-2. Grinnell went up by as many as 13 before the Prairie Fire came back, cutting it to 38-36 late in the first half.
The Pioneers answered with a 10-2 run, as Bayer connected on a 3-pointer,
Danny Thomas '18 sank two free throws,
Ikaika Phillip '18 had a trey and Bayer a layup.
Grinnell led 53-42 at intermission and continued to pull away in the second half.
With the loss, Knox fell to 4-13 in the MWC and 6-16 in all games.
The Pioneers close out the regular season Saturday at Illinois College. Game time is 3 p.m.
