DC matches best start in 40 years with 78-50 win over Transy

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Even though it was cold outside and the snow was falling, Defiance (7-0, 3-0 HCAC) continued its hot start to the season with a dominating 78-50 win over Transylvania (2-5, 1-2 HCAC).  With the win, DC tied its best start in 40 years.

Three players scored in double figures for the Yellow Jackets in the 28-point win, the second largest victory of the season.

Bernard Edwards (Detroit, Mich. / Warren Cousino) led Defiance with 18 points. Edwards has now scored in double figures for the past three games, the longest active streak for the Yellow Jackets.  He had a very strong overall showing, with seven rebounds and a career-high five assists to add to his point total.

Ryan Hicks (Port Clinton, Ohio / Port Clinton), coming off a career high 39 last week, put in another strong game in the scoring column with 16.  Travis Schomaeker (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) rounded out the double-figure scorers for Defiance with 11. Schomaeker had two three pointers in the game, making DC's record 17-2 at home when the junior has hit at least one from beyond the arch in his career.

Transylvania started off the game quickly, scoring the first four points.  Wade Wooley (Wauseon, Ohio / Wauseon), who had eight points and seven rebounds, got the ball in the open court to score the first two points for the Yellow Jackets on an assist by Schomaeker.

After a missed three pointer from the Pioneers, Edwards was able to find Hicks for an easy lay up to tie the score with 17:16 to go in the first half. That would mark the last time Transylvania would hold the lead in the game. 

After a Pioneers basket, Schomaeker made his first of two three pointers to give Defiance a 10-6 lead.

Schomaeker would make another three five minutes later. On the play, there was also a foul away from the ball, allowing DC to hold onto the ball. The Yellow Jackets made the most of the double possession as Edwards hit a three of his own, making it a six-point trip for Defiance to go up 20-13.

The Pioneers would go on a seven-point run of their own in a two minute span, capped off by a Parker Stansberry jumper.  Stansberry had a game high 19 points to lead all scorers.  With the shot, the Pioneers were able to tie it up at 20.

Edwards and the Yellow Jackets then got things rolling in a big way over the last 6:14 of the half.  In that time, Defiance put together a 21-5 run.  Edwards scored 12 of those 21, including a three-point shot at the buzzer to give Defiance the 41-25 halftime lead.

Defiance picked up where they left off to start the second half.  Edwards, Hicks, and Schomaeker were able to help DC put together a 15-11 run over the first eight minutes of the half.  The three combined for 13 of the 15 points in the span, giving DC a 56-36 lead.

A three pointer from Mason Roth (McComb, Ohio / McComb) pushed the lead to 23 points with just over 11 minutes to go, dismissing any hopes of a Transylvania comeback.

With the game safely in hand, Defiance was able to get the bench some quality minutes in the second half.  All five starters for Defiance were subbed out with over four minutes left in the game. Davin Mangus (Leipsic, Ohio / Leipsic) and Shaquille Smith (Flint, Mich. / Flint Northern (Mott CC)) came off the bench to finish the game with eight points and four points, respectively.

A big test waits for Defiance after Christmas, as the Yellow Jackets will travel to Rochester, Mich. to play NCAA Division I opponent, Oakland (2-9).  The Grizzlies have faced some of the top programs in the nation, including Michigan State, North Carolina, UCLA, and Gonzaga already this season. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start on December 27.