December 2, 2022

Yellow Jackets seek first conference win versus Franklin

DEFIANCE, Ohio — The Defiance Yellow Jackets men's basketball team returns to the Weaner Center on Saturday and continues Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play against the Franklin Grizzlies. The men's matchup will tipoff at approximately 3 p.m. after the conclusion of the women's contest that begins at 1 p.m.

The Yellow Jackets enter at 2-3, 0-1 in the HCAC and look to shake off Wednesday night's 86-76 loss at Manchester. Defiance remains the conference's top-scoring offense at 78.6 points per game while also pacing the 10-team league in 3-point percentage (38.6 percent), made 3-point field goals (10.2 per game) and made free throws (92).

Franklin's visit to Defiance is their first conference game of the season while the Grizzlies enter the contest with a 3-3 record. One of their three wins includes a 22-point victory over Wilmington, a team that downed the Yellow Jackets by nine in the season-opening Purple and Gold Tournament. The Grizzlies are coming off a 74-52 win on Tuesday night versus Centre College and have won 3 of 4 following an 0-2 start. Franklin averages 67.5 points per game but allows 62.3 per night, the second-lowest defensive average among HCAC squads and 29th-lowest nationally at the D-III level. Like Defiance, Franklin is hitting the outside shot with success early in the year with 57 total making a 9.5 per game average that only trails the Yellow Jackets.

Senior Carter Crowe is the only Grizzly averaging double-figures in scoring at 16.0 per game while junior Logan Hudgins and sophomore Lynn King lead the way on the boards with over six per contest. Crowe's 15 made 3-pointers are the second-most in the HCAC.

Defiance senior Marell Jordan stands second among conference players at 19.8 points per game while also pacing the team in rebounds (5.2), assists (16) and steals (12). Te Jones has emerged as a key piece off the bench with three straight games in double figures and is averaging 13.0 points over that stretch. Defiance's long-range shooting continues to get a boost from a pair of sophomores from the Hoosier State in Landen Swanner and Clayton McCorkle. The tandem has knocked down 15 triples combined and are the only two players to hit at least one 3-pointer in every game.

This Saturday's contest is one of just two home games for the men's basketball team in the month of December as they settled into a stretch of playing 6 of 8 on the road.

Defiance College's Santa's Challenge will also be held during the basketball doubleheader on Saturday. Registration and the on-court competition will take place during the women's game at 1 p.m. while additional prizes will be raffled off during the men's game.

-JACKETS-