GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's men's basketball team got the new year off to a good start initially, but then things hit a snag.
 
Lake Forest College went on a 21-4 run during a five-minute stretch of the first half and never looked back on its way to a 114-89 win over the Pioneers in Midwest Conference play Friday night at Darby Gymnasium.
 
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Pioneers, who fell to 2-1 in the league and 6-4 overall. Lake Forest is also 2-1 in the MWC and 5-5 in all contests.
 
Patrick Simms '22 led Grinnell with 16 points, Jackson Qualley '21 scored 13 and Hannes Kogelnik '21 and Aiden Gilbert '23 tallied 10 apiece. Gilbert's point total was a career high.
 
Simms also had two assists and two steals, as did Brady Vest '21 and Anthony Gulve '20. Vest's assist total was a career high. Will Bebee '22 added three blocks, Will Dubow '21 had two blocks and six boards and Tyler Grumhaus '21 came up with two steals.
 
Grinnell, which shot just 32.2 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point land, grabbed a 7-3 lead as Grumhaus sank a 3-pointer, Qualley scored on a layup and Simms made two free throws.
 
But then it was the Foresters' turn as they went on their big run to grab a 24-11 lead. Grinnell got within single digits twice after that, the first time at 24-15 on Bebee's layup and again at 26-17 on Brad Geiman's '21 free throws.
 
However, Lake Forest held off the Pioneers while building a 56-37 halftime lead. The visitors opened the second half with a 12-2 run and continued from there for the win.
 
The Pioneers will attempt to return to the win column Saturday when Lawrence University visits Darby for a 1 p.m. test.