Yellow Jackets End Season With Loss To Rose-Hulman

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College men's basketball team and Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology would be separated by a total of four points in the regular-season series with the Yellow Jackets coming out on top in both games, but the third meeting between the two squads went in favor the Fightin' Engineers.  This time, in the semifinals of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with Rose-Hulman winning, 60-47, at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

Defiance was held to 33.3 percent (18-of-54) shooting from the field and 21.7 percent (five-of-23) from three-point range.  Junior Tyler Alexander (Indianapolis, Ind./Northwest) was the only DC player to score in double figures with a game-high 21 points on seven-of-15 shooting (46.7 percent).  Senior Wade Wooley (Wauseon) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in the loss.

The game looked to be headed in Defiance's (15-11) favor early on with a five-point lead which was later increased to eight points, 18-10, at the 11:19 mark of the first half following a three-pointer by junior Devin Mangas (Leipsic).  In the opposite of the regular-season finale, it would be DC who'd lead by as many as 11 points in the game, 26-15, with just under seven minutes to go in the half that was part of a 7-0 scoring run which ended in a jumper by Alexander.  

Rose-Hulman then began its rally, scoring the final 11 points of the period to go into the locker room with the score deadlocked at 26-26.

The Engineers continued their unanswered streak with a triple to begin the scoring in the second half to take their first lead of the game.  Junior Michael Parker (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) connected on a jumper on DC's ensuing possession, but back-to-back baskets by the Engineers extended the deficit to five points, 33-28, with 17:44 to go in the game.

Rose-Hulman would end up never trailing in the game again despite the Jackets coming back to tie the game at 34-34 at the 16:08 mark thanks to a jumper by junior Chris Holmes (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North).  Defiance also trailed by a point late in the game, 46-45, with 4:53 to go.  

That's when Rose-Hulman began to take control of the game and jumped out a nine-point lead with an ensuing 8-0 run.  The run would be all that the Engineers needed and sealed the victory at the free-throw line en route to the final score of 60-47.

The Engineers will advance to the championship game tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 28) at the Weaner Center.  Defiance will end its 2015-16 season with a 15-11 record, but winning its third straight regular-season conference title.