Yellow Jackets grab 68-57 victory at Anderson

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Defiance College Yellow Jackets pulled away late to defeat Anderson University 68-57 Thursday night to close a three-game stretch on the road.

Bernard Edwards and Ryan Hicks each reached the 20-point mark in the conference test, helping the Yellow Jackets (15-5, 10-3 HCAC) to its third-straight win over the Ravens (4-16, 4-9 HCAC). The win also gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 record after losses in HCAC play this season.

After taking a 28-24 lead into the halftime break, the Yellow Jackets found themselves behind six minutes into the second half and Defiance trailed Anderson for the next seven minutes.

With 6:49 remaining, Edwards pulled DC to within two points and Ryan Hicks followed it up with a jumper to tie the game at 54.

At the 4:57 mark, Noah Reed gave Defiance the lead and the Yellow Jackets took over from that point, using a 16-3 run in the last seven minutes to pick up the victory.

Hicks and Travis Schomaeker followed with layups and the Yellow Jackets teamed together to sink all eight free-throw opportunities in the final 76 seconds to seal the victory.

Edwards and Hicks teamed up for the 12^th and 13^th 20-point games of the season for Defiance. It was the second time that the duo did it in the same game and the third time that the Yellow Jackets had a pair score in the 20s in the same contest.

Both players were in double figures at the break. Edwards led all scorers with 11 points and Hicks had 10 in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, the combo produced more of the same, with Edwards making 13 points and Hicks chipping in another 10. The combo each logged 40 minutes in the game.

Edwards and Hicks also had two blocks apiece, while combining for eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Yellow Jackets shot well in the game, hitting 25-of-47 (53.2 percent) from the field with a trio of three pointers.

Defiance protected the ball well in the game, turning the ball over just six times while forcing eight steals as Anderson had 12 turnovers.

Schomaeker had four of DC's steals to lead all players in the game. The junior also added three rebounds and three assists to go along with four points.

Wade Wooley led the Yellow Jackets on the boards in the game, recording eight rebounds, while also collecting six points, an assist and a steal.

Mason Roth finished out the 61 points from DC's starting five with seven points in the contest. Roth finished with four assists as well and also grabbed three rebounds, all on the defensive glass.

Reed provided a big spark off the bench in the second half, scoring all seven of his points after the break. His 27 minutes matched a career high for the freshman.

Defiance will now return to the friendly confines of the Weaner Center for back-to-back games against Mt St. Joseph and Earlham on Saturday and Wednesday, looking to pull the season sweep on both teams after winning the road tests earlier this season.