Conference-leading Ravens roll against Yellow Jackets, 102-55

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's defending champs and current co-leader in men's basketball handed the Defiance Yellow Jackets a 102-55 defeat at Anderson's O.C. Lewis Gymnasium on Wednesday.

The victory for the Anderson Ravens propelled the team to a 7-2 mark in the conference by matching a season-high 102 points behind a game-high 26 points by reigning HCAC Player of the Year Tate Ivanyo. Defiance's loss was the squad's 13th in a row due to a season-high 32 turnovers by the Jackets.

TURNING POINT

Defiance went from trailing by three points to down 15 in just under three minutes during the first half. Over that stretch, Defiance was limited to just two missed shots and handed the ball over to Anderson three times while the Ravens went 5-for-8 and grabbed two offensive boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With Defiance missing leading scorer Landen Swanner and sixth man Jordyn Jury, freshman Jeffrey Smith made his first career start and got right into the box score with a made jumper off the tip. However, the Ravens took the lead on their first turn with the ball when Ivanyo knocked down a 3-pointer. Ivanyo went on to account for Anderson's first eight points.

Through the halfway point of the first half, Defiance kept the Ravens within three points at 23-20 before Anderson took off on a 12-0 run. The Jackets went nearly seven minutes without a field goal prior to a Cole Wojciechowski bucket near the rim, who made three shots in a two minute period to close DC's scoring for the half. Anderson closed the half by outscoring DC 24-10 over the final 10 minutes of the half and forced 15 Yellow Jacket turnovers by the break. 

To start the second half, the Ravens put the pedal down and tipped the scales with a 33-8 advantage out of the break. Defiance committed 11 turnovers over the first 12 minutes of the half while the Ravens put the game out of reach.

Anderson matched Defiance's scoring total with 55 points off 32 forced turnovers. The Jackets also surrendered 15 points at the free throw line by being outshot 28 to 8 at the line despite both squads shooting 75 percent at the stripe. The Jackets were also limited to just three treys, the fewest by Defiance offensively this year. Oddly enough, Defiance won the rebounding battle with 44 compared to 36 by Anderson.

BRINGING THE STING

• Evan Park led Defiance in scoring with 12 points, his third game in double figures.
• Dre'Sean Roberts set a career high with 10 points. He also recorded three steals to set a new single-game best during his freshman year.
• Each Jeffrey Smith and Sherod Brooks scored eight points.
• Will Gehlhausen led the team in rebounds with seven despite going 0-for-7 shooting from the field.
• Cole Wojciechowski logged action for the second time in the last five games and recorded six points and six rebounds.

UP NEXT

Defiance returns home to face another contender in the HCAC race with the Transylvania Pioneers visiting the Weaner Center. The men's game follows the women's contest with an approximate 3 p.m. tipoff. 

-JACKETS-