Jackets Blitz Finlandia for Berth in Championship Game

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College men's basketball team had little trouble advancing into the Purple and Gold Tournament Championship game with an 85-57 thrashing of Finlandia inside the Karl  H. Weaner Community Center on Saturday evening.

The Jackets improved to 59-16 all-time in the tournament with the lopsided victory and upped their season record inside the Hive to 5-0, while extending their home winning streak in non-conference games to 17-straight wins.

Defiance used an 18-0 stretch to put the game away early, extending a 9-7 edge at the 14:15 mark of the opening stanza into a commanding 27-7 lead at the 8:43 mark. Drew Frizell buried a trio of three-point daggers during the spurt to help DC take firm control of the action.

The lead would continue to grow from there, swelling to as high as 35-9 with 6:29 remaining in the half, before settling at 44-20 in favor of the Purple and Gold by the intermission.

DC continued its dominance throughout the second half, pushing the cushion to as many as 39 points at 83-44 with 4:27 left in the game and cruising to the 85-57 win.

The 85 points set a season-high for the Yellow Jackets, who have now won four-straight games while holding their opponents to 60 points or less in three of those four victories and allowing only 59.8 points per game during that streak.

Frizell lead four DC players in double figures with a game-high 16 points, while Mason Roth ended with 12 and Ryan Hicks secured his third double-double of the year with 10 points, 12 rebounds, two steals and three assists.

Jordan Fair posted the best showing of his young career, setting new personal bests with nine points, six rebounds, one steal and one block, and fellow freshman Hosie Smith matched a career-high with six points.

Logan Wolfrum jumped past Bill Szabo (1983-1985) and Joe Hockenberry (1954-1958) on DC's all-time scoring list and into ninth place all-time with 1,498 points. The senior guard also added seven assists and three blocks and will become the fourth player in Defiance's NCAA Division III era to reach 1,500 career points with his next two points scored.

Wolfrum will get the chance to join the 1,500-point club on Sunday, when DC hosts No. 12 Adrian (10-0) in the championship game of the 38th-Annual Purple and Gold Tournament. Tip is set for 7:00 pm and will follow the 5:00 pm consolation match between Finlandia (1-10) and Mount Union (4-7).