MBB Preview: Yellow Jackets battle Rose-Hulman in conference game on Saturday

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DEFIANCE, Ohio – After another heartbreaking Wednesday night loss for Defiance, the Yellow Jackets look to salvage the final game of a three-game homestand on Saturday when the Fightin' Engineers from Rose-Hulman visit the Weaner Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be played ahead of the DC women's game against Miami-Hamilton.

Defiance has lost four straight games after clawing their way back to .500 in late December and is still seeking their first victory within the HCAC. Following Earlham's win over Bluffton on Wednesday, the Yellow Jackets are the only winless team in conference play.

The Yellow Jackets are one the top scoring teams in the HCAC at 71.4 points per game but are giving up 79.4 per game, the highest defensive average in the league. Despite shooting 42 percent overall, DC leads the Heartland in 3-point percentage at 38 percent and knocks down better than nine outside shots per night. The team's free throw percentage of 71.7 percent is also among the conference's best rates.

Marell Jordan continues to lead the conference in scoring at 20.1 points per game following a 28-point outing on Wednesday. Landen Swanner hit 25 points in DC's last game but is looking for more consistency as he averages just 4.0 points per game in games following a 20-point performance this year. Swanner is the top 3-point shooter for Defiance's league-best attack at 27 total makes, tied for eighth in the HCAC. Defiance's No. 3 scorer, Te Jones, is coming off a career-high 22 markers from Wednesday night thanks to four more 3-balls and is shooting 51 percent from the field.

Rose-Hulman comes to Defiance with an overall record of 8-6 and 5-2 in the Heartland. The Engineers rank sixth in scoring at 70.1 points per game and allow the third-fewest at 66.9 points per night. They are also the top rebounding team in the conference at 39.3 boards per game, 13.2 of which is the league's highest average offensive rebounds.

Max Chaplin leads the team at 13.2 points per game while Miles McGowen adds 12.2 with a team-best 8.9 rebounds, the highest average in the HCAC.

The Fightin' Engineers are coached by former Yellow Jacket Nick Sales, who was an All-American and the HCAC's Player of the Year for Defiance during his senior season in 2010. Sales is in his first season as Role-Hulman's head coach.

Rose-Hulman leads the all-time series, 20-14, after splitting the season series a year ago with each team winning on their home court.

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