Men’s basketball falls in HCAC game at Hanover

HANOVER, Ind. – The Defiance College men's basketball team traveled to play the Hanover College Panthers in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference battle on Saturday afternoon and came away with an 88-76 loss inside Collier Arena.

With the defeat, Defiance is 10-7 overall, including 5-5 in the HCAC. Hanover improves to 13-4 overall and 7-3 in conference games.

In a back-and forth first half, the Yellow Jackets had an early 20-14 lead but the Panthers moved ahead, 42-39, at halftime. The hosts increased their advantage to 53-45 before DC claimed its first and only lead of the second half, 63-61, with 10 minutes remaining. From there, HC scored 12 straight points and twice led by 15 in the final minute.

Both teams shot well from the floor with Hanover making 35 of 58 (60.3 percent) and Defiance 31 of 57 (54.4). From three-point range, the Panthers hit 10 of 17 (58.8 percent) while the guests knocked down 12 of 28 (42.9). The Yellow Jackets were outrebounded, 32-22, and each squad ended with just 10 turnovers. In the paint, DC was outscored, 46-28.

Leading the charge for Defiance was Marell Jordan (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson), who led all scorers with a season-high 25 points. Freshman Avonte Jones (Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington Central) tallied 11 points and a career-best five assists off the bench while freshman Owen Hiegel (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) was credited with nine points, five rebounds and a career-high five assists. Jack Kolar (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy), another freshman, also scored nine points in a reserve role.

The Jackets host Anderson (Ind.) University in an HCAC contest on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. inside the Karl H. Weaner Community Center.