Yellow Jackets Open with Loss to No. 22 Ohio Wesleyan

MARIETTA, Ohio – The 2012-2013 campaign got off to a bumpy start for the Defiance College men's basketball squad, as the Yellow Jackets fell behind early against No. 22 Ohio Wesleyan at the Marietta Tournament and suffered a 69-55 setback.

The Battling Bishops returned 10 of their top 11 performers from the 2011-2012 squad that won 20 games, en route to earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The experienced OWU lineup withstood an early charge from the youthful Yellow Jackets, before taking control of the contest.

Defiance took a 10-9 lead with 12:05 left in the first half, before Ohio Wesleyan scored 10-straight points and poured in 20 of the game's next 22 points to break open a 29-12 edge. OWU stayed in control from there, cruising to a 40-20 lead at the intermission.

The Jackets cut the gap to 13 points out of the break, before the Bishops pushed the spread back over the 20-point barrier. Defiance would get back to within 59-45 with 6:32 to go but would never mount a serious charge, eventually falling 69-55.

Bernard Edwards paced Defiance with a double-double in his first game with the Purple and Gold, tallying a game-high 17 points along with 10 rebounds and one block in 31 minutes of work.

Mason Roth and Logan Wolfrum joined Edwards in double figures with 10 points each, and rookie Hosie Smith chipped in with six points and five boards in his collegiate debut.

Defiance (0-1) will play in the consolation game of the 42nd-Annual Marietta Shrine Tournament at 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 17. The Jackets will play the loser of Friday evening's contest between Marietta and Frostburg State.