Lawrence University

    APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University men's basketball made multiple key plays down the stretch Saturday to post a 104-96 Midwest Conference victory over Grinnell College at Alexander Gymnasium.
    Lawrence led by just one with 2:13 left, but the Vikings outscored Grinnell 10-3 in the final two minutes to secure the win.
    The Vikings shot 63.9 percent from the floor for the game, including a scorching 76.7 percent in the opening half, as Lawrence players scored in double figures.
    Senior forward Adnan Sarancic led the way for the Vikings with 23 points and a career-high 11 assists. Sarancic was 10-for-14 from the floor and finished with eight rebounds, just two shy of finishing the triple-double. 
    Rookie forwards Nicholas Gouriotis and Casey Schoenecker were also impressive for Lawrence (3-12, 1-5 MWC). Gouriotis was 10-for-12 from the floor on his way to 21 points, and he added four assists and three rebounds. Schoenecker went 7-for-10 from the floor and finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
    Lawrence rookie guard Hogan Demovsky scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and picked up a career-high five blocked shots. Will Thomas added 10 points and a pair of rebounds for the Vikings.
    Grinnell (10-3, 5-1), which was handed its first conference loss, rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half and tied the game at 89-89 with 6:21 remaining. Demovsky scored the next five points for Lawrence to push the lead to 94-89, but the Pioneers scored the next two baskets to trim the margin to 94-93 with 2:13 left.
    Gouriotis answered with a layup to give the Vikings a 96-93 edge, and the Pioneers came up empty on the ensuing possession. Demovsky answered with another basket to give the Vikings a 98-93 lead with 1:25 left. After a Grinnell free throw, Demovsky was fouled and made both to give Lawrence a 100-94 edge with 1:15 left.
    Grinnell turned it over, and the Pioneers fouled Sarancic. He made both free throws for a 102-94 advantage with just 46 seconds remaining. After a Grinnell miss, Jake Fisher made one free throw to seal the victory with a 103-94 lead with 31 seconds left.
    The Vikings came out strong and built a 10-point edge at 21-11 six minutes into the game. Lawrence led by as many as 12 points in the opening half and held a 61-53 advantage at the half.
    Lawrence went 23-for-30 from the floor in the first half, including 4-for-5 from 3-point range, to go along with an 11-for-12 effort from the foul line. 
    Lawrence's defense limited Grinnell to 13-for-42 (31 percent) from 3-point range, including just 6-for-23 (26.1 percent) in the second half. The Pioneers were held to 38.8 percent shooting for the game and committed 24 turnovers.