Men's Hoops Rallies to Beat Mount St. Joseph

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  Senior forward Bernard Edwards (Detroit, Mich.) scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Defiance College men's basketball team past Mount St. Joseph University in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

With the win, the Yellow Jackets improve to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the HCAC.  The Lions fall to 4-2 overall and 1-1 HCAC.

As a team, DC shot 50.0 percent (22-of-44) from the field, including 81.8 percent (18-of-22) at the free-throw line.  Bernard Edwards shot nine-of-20 (45.0 percent) from the floor and 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) at the free-throw line, in addition to grabbing a game-high seven rebounds.  Senior guard Travis Schomaeker (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) added 18 points to round out the top scorers for the Jackets.

The Yellow Jackets led for the majority of the first half and led by as many as six points on two occasions, including a 17-11 margin at the 12:43 minute mark thanks to a jumper by Schomaeker.  MSJ battled back to make it a competitive remainder of the half as the two teams combined for four ties and three lead changes.  The Lions moved ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the game with 6:48 remaining and had a three-point advantage, 29-26, with just over four minutes to go before halftime.  Following one-of-two free-throws by Bernard Edwards, Schomaeker connected on another jumper to even the game at 29-29 at the 2:07 mark.  The final points of the half were scored by MSJ on a pair of free-throws to take a slim 31-29 lead into the intermission.

Both teams stayed within striking distance in the first 10 minutes of the final period and the score was tied for the seventh time, 54-54, with 5:51 to go in the game.  DC then went on an 11-0 scoring run with Schomaeker scoring seven points during the run and Bernard Edwards scoring the other four points as the Yellow Jackets built an 11-point margin with 47 seconds on the clock.  The Lions would not go away quietly as MSJ cut the deficit to just four points with under 10 seconds remaining.  Bernard Edwards added a pair of free-throws to extend the lead to six points, 69-63, but a successful triple by the Lions made it a one-posession game, 69-66.  The bucket came with under a second remaining however, and DC was able to imbound the ball following the three-pointer to run out the clock and hold on for the 69-66 final.  

MSJ also shot an even 50.0 percent (26-of-52) from the floor and was led in scoring by Travis Combs with 14 points.  Mark Allen was second with 11 points and Andy Countryman added 10 points.

Defiance will take its two-game winning streak to Lexington, Ky. when the Jackets take on Transylvania University next Saturday, Dec. 13.  The game will be part of a basketball doubleheader with the Defiance women's team.  The women will also take on the Pioneers in a game that is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.