APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University men's basketball held high-scoring Grinnell College nearly 50 points below its season average in a 79-55 Midwest Conference victory Friday night at Alexander Gymnasium.
Lawrence (9-1, 5-0 MWC) remained in first place in the MWC and is the lone unbeaten team left in the league. Five Vikings scored in double figures, led by Jayce Apelgren, who came off the bench to score 14 points. Andy Hurley added a double-double for Lawrence with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
David Arseneault led Grinnell (8-4, 3-2) with 13 points, and John Grotberg, the nation's scoring leader at 30.0 points per game, was held to 10 points. Arseneault, who leads the nation in assists at 12.1 per game, was limited to only two.
The Pioneers entered the game averaging 113.4 points per game and hadn't been held to 55 points since a 99-55 loss at Ripon College during the 1999-2000 season. The Vikings limited Grinnell to 24.3 percent (17-70) from the floor for the game, including 17.5 percent (7-40) on 3-pointers.
The Vikings set the pace early, holding Grinnell without a point for the first 2:57. Lawrence led 32-22 with 4:44 left in the first half, but the Vikings finished the opening 20 minutes with a 12-6 run to lead 45-28 at the break.
Lawrence opened the second half with an 18-5 to take control for good. Hurley finished with six points, including a dunk, during that stretch to help put Lawrence up 63-33 with 14:28 remaining. Grinnell never got closer than 22 points the rest of the way.
Doug Kadison chipped in with 12 points for Lawrence, and Chris Page and Ryan Kroeger had 10 points apiece.
Lawrence returns to action Saturday when it hosts Knox College.