GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's men's basketball team has seen many amazing feats over the years, from scoring outputs that have gained international attention to other NCAA records to conference championships.
 
The Pioneers have added another accomplishment to that list, as Friday night's 107-93 win over Lake Forest College marked the 1,000th victory in program history. The feat was recognized by Grinnell Director of Athletics and Recreation Andy Hamilton after the game as he awarded the squad a commemorative basketball with "1,000" inscribed on it.  
 
The coaching duo of David Arseneault and his son, David Jr., has been at the helm for 378 – more than a third – of those victories in a program that dates back to the 1900-01 season.
 
The last two have been the most fruitful decades of Grinnell men's basketball. The Pioneers won 154 games in the 2000s and are at 121 and counting this decade.
 
Grinnell has won eight of its last nine meetings with Lake Forest at Darby Gymnasium, dating back to 2008.
 
The win was big for Grinnell in terms of league play, as the Pioneers – who avenged a 104-91 loss at Lake Forest in early December - moved to 4-3 in the Midwest Conference and 9-4 overall. Lake Forest fell to 5-2 in league play and 9-5 in all games.
 
Vinny Curta '19 led Grinnell with 21 points and three assists, while Ikaika Phillip '18 tallied a career-high 18 points to go with four assists.
 
Ky-Sean Johnson '19 added 13 points, three assists and two steals. Griffin Boehm '19 grabbed six boards and Hannes Kogelnik '21 dished out four assists.
 
It was tight early before the Foresters pulled away to lead by eight twice in the first half, and were ahead 48-43 at intermission.
 
After shooting just 29.1 percent from the field in the first half and 23.1 percent from 3-point range, the Pioneers knew they had to get things going in the second half – and they delivered.
 
Lake Forest had two early buckets in the second half, but Gus King '18, Phillip and Balcom all drained consecutive 3-point tries and Balcom added a layup to tie the game at 54-all with 18:48 left.
 
It was tight for a while after that before the Pioneers went on a key 12-2 run midway through the half. Leading by two, Sean Cullinane '18 hit a pair of free throws and Curta delivered a 3-pointer to make it 77-70.
 
After a Lake Forest basket, Cullinane buried a 3-pointer, Boehm added a layup and Johnson two free throws to push the Pioneers ahead 84-72 with 7:21 left.
 
Lake Forest got as close as five twice down the stretch, but both times Grinnell fended off the rallies to secure the win.
 
Grinnell followed its rough first-half shooting with a 55.5 percent success rate in the second half, including a 40.9 percent effort from 3-point land.
 
Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Saturday to face Beloit College. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.

Year                 Wins

2010s              121 and counting

2000s              154

1990s              105

1980s              44

1970s              43

1960s              81

1950s              98

1940s              67

1930s              84

1920s              41

1910s              93

1900s              69

Total               1,000