DC Men Suffer Rare Setback at Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Defiance College fell to Rose-Hulman for just the second time in nine Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference meetings between the two programs, as the Jackets failed to get on track against the league's top-rated defense in the 74-66 defeat.

DC battled through foul problems and cold shooting through the first 20 minutes, climbing back from a 19-12 deficit to take a 31-30 lead with five seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Two R-H free throws would put the Engineers back in front at 32-31 heading to the break.

The shooting woes carried over into the second half for Defiance, as the potent scoring duo of Anthony Brown and Logan Wolfrum combined to hit just two of their first 17 attempts from the floor, despite each netting over 21 points per night entering the game.

Rose-Hulman (5-1, 2-0 HCAC) finally began to take advantage of the slumping Yellow Jacket offense, using an 11-0 spurt to break open the game and take a 49-37 lead with 10:40 left to play.

An ensuing 9-0 rally from Defiance brought the Jackets back to within 49-46 and a hoop from Brown eventually drew DC within a single point at 55-54 with 5:34 showing on the clock. That would be as close as Defiance would get however, as the Engineers used another extended rally to take a 66-56 cushion and eventually stopped a four-game skid against the Jackets with the 74-66 victory.

Defiance ended the day shooting just 38.0 percent from the field, despite placing a trio of players in double figures. Kyle Tietje led the charge with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Leroy Lewis scored a career-high 13 and Brown ended with a team-high 17.

DC (3-3, 1-1 HCAC) will have a week to regroup, before starting a four-game homestand with a game against Hanover on Saturday at 3:00 pm. As part of a special promotion to the game, all fans who present a Defiance College winter sports schedule card will be admitted at no cost.