GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's men's basketball team gave a huge crowd a lot to cheer about in the season opener Wednesday night, but in the end Luther College was just a bit too much as the Norse escaped Darby Gymnasium with a 114-108 victory.
 
The contest was tight nearly the entire way, with Grinnell rallying in the second half to take the lead and looking poised to snap a five-game losing streak to American Rivers Conference foes.
 
Three Pioneers getting their first taste of collegiate competition were among the team's top three scorers, led by Gabe Garcia's '27 29-point output. Kai Te Huki '27 poured in 19 points with the aid of four treys, while Jordan Lee '27 added 12 as did Dillon Gestring '25.
 
Garcia also led the way in rebounds with seven, while Lee added five assists.
 
Things went back and forth in the first half, with Luther pulling away late for a 59-47 halftime edge. It was still a nine-point Luther lead with 12:23 left in the game when the Pioneers took off with a run of 10 unanswered points. Jackson Leone '25 began the spurt with a trey, followed by a 3-pointer by Lee and jumper by Jack Ruhanen '25. Garcia then converted a pair of free throws, putting Grinnell ahead 76-75 with 10:51 left.
 
The Norse followed with a four-point run, but Garcia made two free throws and Gestring a layup to push the hosts ahead 80-79. However, Luther came back and gradually worked its lead to 14 points with 3:43 remaining.
 
Grinnell rallied again, though, closing within 112-108 on Lee's 3-pointer with 4 ticks left before the Norse secured the win at the free throw line.
 
The Pioneers host Barclay College both Friday and Saturday, with Friday's contest at 7:30 p.m. and the Saturday affair at 1 p.m.