Atmosphere a ‘saving grace’ for Lancers

When Grace senior forward David Swanson heard his team would be playing IU in an exhibition game, he thought it was a mistake.

“I said, ‘Indiana University in Bloomington?’ I was very confused,” he said.

The game wasn’t a mistake. The Lancers took on IU in the first of two exhibition games for the Hoosiers, losing 96-73 to their in-state foes.

While the game was more of a throw-away for IU, it meant more to Grace.

Grace junior guard David Henry said he used the IU game as motivation during his long summer workouts.

“You know you get to play IU, and it makes it worth it,” he said.

Two buses of fans came down from Winona Lake, Ind., to Bloomington to see the NAIA school compete in Assembly Hall.

Larry Cole, whose son-in-law Chad Briscoe is Athletics Director for Grace, brought friends and family with him. He said there were about 120 or so Lancers fans at the game.

“It’s huge for the program,” he said. “This is a chance to play on a big stage.”

Cole isn’t the only one to appreciate the game. Henry said looking up at the banners was almost too much for him.

“I got dizzy,” he said.

Swason also had trouble focusing during the national anthem.

“I’m about to play in Assembly Hall and step foot on the same court as some of the great players and coaches before me,” he said he thought.

The game was a shift for both the players and their fans. When asked what the biggest difference was about playing IU instead of their usual NAIA Division-II opponents, Henry said, “The point guard was 6-foot-5.”

While the players hoped for a win, many saw Wednesday night as a chance to fulfill childhood dreams. Freshman guard Elliot Smith said he still roots for the Hoosiers.  

“I dreamed about playing for IU,” he said. “But this is good enough, I guess.”

Even Swanson, who grew up in Ohio and cheers for the Buckeyes, said he
appreciates the Indiana history.

“This stadium is just kind of a shrine to basketball,” he said.

IU coach Tom Crean said he was aware of how important the game was to the Lancers. The Hoosiers’ second preseason game Nov. 9 will be against another in-state school, St. Joseph’s, located in Rensselaer, Ind.  Crean said he doesn’t plan to do this every year, but he said he knows their opponents value the chance to play IU.

“You know you’re going to get an opportunity to play against teams that it really matters to,” Crean said. “And it’s going to be really special for their players to come to Assembly Hall.”

Mark Sharp, whose wife is the Athletics Office Manager for Grace, is a graduate of Grace and also came to Bloomington. Sharp said being at the game was worth the drive down from Winona Lake.

“It’s not every day you play IU,” Sharp said. “This is the epitome of basketball.”