APPLETON, Wis. – Grinnell College's men's basketball team made a gritty comeback late in Saturday afternoon's game at Lawrence University, but the Vikings pulled away at the end to secure an 87-82 Midwest Conference victory.
 
The Pioneers trailed by 10 points at the 8:46 mark, but took the lead with 11 unanswered points. Dean Mazlish '23 and David Bluder '25 began the run with layups, Adam Phillips '23 delivered a 3-pointer and Bluder and Dillon Gestring '25 followed with layups to make it a 69-68 Pioneer lead with 4:05 remaining.
 
After Lawrence retook the lead, Grinnell (3-5, 2-1 MWC) gained command for the final time on Aiden Gilbert's '23 free throws at the 3:11 mark that made it 71-70. Lawrence (4-4, 1-2 MWC) followed with a 6-1 run and never let Grinnell closer than three points the rest of the way.
 
Gestring had a game-high 23 points for the Pioneers, while Gilbert and Phillips also had double-digit points with 12 apiece. Tolu Johnson '25 was fierce inside with eight rebounds and a blocked shot to go along with two steals.
 
Gestring, Jack Ruhanen '25, Nicholas Courtney '26 and John Vincent '26 also had a block, while Gilbert, Zach Rosen '26, Mitch Priest '25 and Tate McLean '23 added two assists each. Like Johnson, Courtney also had two steals. Brady Vest '23 contributed five rebounds.
 
Grinnell heads to Mount Vernon on Wednesday to face Cornell College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.