Albion Shoots Past Defiance, 82-65, in Season Opener

ALBION, Mich. – The 2008-2009 season got underway on Friday evening for the men's basketball team. The Jackets headed north to compete in the Albion College Tip-Off Tournament and fell, 82-65, to the host Albion squad in the opening game.

Defiance and Albion each had been the recipients of lofty expectations and preseason accolades, after each piling up 19 victories one year ago. Both squads were also taking the court with new head coaches patrolling the sidelines and had each garnered votes in the D3hoops.com Preseason Poll.

It was the host Britons that struck first however, scoring the first nine points of the night and never allowing the Yellow Jackets to take the lead. DC's first bucket did not come until an Anthony Pettaway layup at the 16:26 mark cut the deficit to 9-2.

Another hoop by the preseason All-American over five minutes later drew Defiance within three at 17-14. That was as close as DC would get though, as Albion steadily regained control and extended its lead to 40-33 at the half.

The Albion lead never dipped below four points in the second half and swelled to double figures over the last five minutes of play.

The difference proved to be the hot hands of the Britons, who combined to shoot 54 percent from the floor in the game. Defiance struggled to find the hoop and managed to hit only 38.6 percent of its shots and only 13-of-23 from the charity stripe. The Jackets did sink eight attempts from beyond the arc, but hoisted 24 of their 57 shots in the game from long range.

Pettaway picked up where he left off one year ago, leading all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Mike Floyd turned in 10 points and seven assists.

Defiance (0-1) will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon, when it takes on Madonna at 3:00 pm. The game will be held at Albion, as the second game of the Tip-Off Tournament.