Yellow Jackets compete at D-I Cleveland State

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Defiance College men's basketball hit the hardwood for the first time for the 2023-24 season with an exhibition contest at Division I Cleveland State and was defeated by the Vikings, 102-41.

As the Yellow Jackets were able to measure themselves against the Horizon League's 2022-23 runner-up, Defiance remained within 10 points through the first 10 minutes of action before heading into halftime down 48-21. Over the course of the second half, Cleveland State posted a similar result by holding a 54-20 advantage during the final 20 minutes. Landen Swanner made a pair of 3-pointers out of the locker room followed by a pair of layups and a triple by Evan Park to account for Defiance's first 13 markers in the second half. The Vikings held the Jackets off the board between the 12:24 and 1:54 marks, a stretch broken up by a 3-pointer by Landon Wells.

Park's seven points in the second half led the Jackets in scoring followed by Swanner, Will Gehlhausen and Jeffrey Smith with six apiece. Head coach Josh Gibson was able to get every player on the roster in the game held at the Wolstein Center.

Defiance went 16-for-47 from the field for 34 percent while the Vikings buried 63 percent of their shots. Both squads knocked down six 3-pointers but Defiance was forced into 32 turnovers and put CSU at the line for 33 free-throw attempts.

Played as an exhibition for DC, the result does not count towards Defiance's record. For Cleveland State, it marks their first win following an earlier exhibition win over Baldwin Wallace.

DC's first regular-season contest is on Friday during the opening night of the 48th Annual Purple and Gold Tournament. Tipoff against Beloit College is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Bethany and Miami-Hamilton playing at 8 p.m.

-JACKETS-