Goshen pulls away from Yellow Jackets in closing minutes

GOSHEN, Ind. – In one of the last non-conference games of the year for the Defiance Yellow Jackets, the Goshen Maple Leafs defended their home floor with a wire-to-wire, 83-65 decision at Gunden Gymnasium on Wednesday.

The Yellow Jackets (2-3) were hindered by 19 turnovers, 11 of which were after halftime, while the Maple Leafs (2-3) sank 11 3-pointers and outrebounded Defiance 37-30. Like Defiance was able to do earlier this season, Goshen snapped a lengthy losing streak in their last regular-season game and added a second consecutive win and have made 37 treys over their last two contests. Wednesday's contest was the first meeting between the two programs since Jan. 22, 1998 and Defiance leads the all-time series 19-7.

The start of the game was slow on offense for both sides with the score standing 10-4 through five minutes. Goshen's lead shrank to 14-12 with just under 13 minutes in the half and Defiance had to fight back again to within three after the Leafs jumps out by seven at the halfway point. The lead grew to as many as 12 before the break before it was trimmed down to 43-35 just before half while the Maple Leafs limited themselves to just five turnovers. Despite not controlling the glass or turnover margin, the Yellow Jackets went a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line in the opening half to stay within distance. 

Out of the halftime break, Defiance got a pair of big 3-pointers from Connor Bush and Jalen Brown to cut the lead down to one possession. The Yellow Jackets kept pace until Goshen found some rhythm to extend their lead to 10 points, 60-50 with 11:23 remaining. Donovan Stone responded with a triple and a steal before knocking down another jumper to bring the lead down to five in a matter of moments. Defiance remained within five points until the nine-minute mark of the second when shots stopped falling and turnovers took their toll.

THE TURNING POINT
Goshen closed the game on a 19-6 run over the last 8:36 of the game. Defiance went 2-for-6 from the floor and turned the ball over six times over that stretch. The final push for Goshen was a 13-2 run in the last 5:37 that was started by a Judah Simfukwe triple along with two others from downtown to push the home team's advantage into double figures.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Wednesday's first half was the highest scoring of the season for the Yellow Jackets with Gosehn posting 43 points compared to 35 for DC.
• The Maples Leafs 83 points was the most allowed by Defiance this season after holding their opponents to 67.8 per contest. The Maple Leafs entered the game averaging 85.5 through their four games.
• The Yellow Jackets were led by the trio of Jalen Brown, Connor Bush and Donovan Stone, who accounted for all but 17 points. Brown led the Jackets for the third straight game with 18, including 12 at the charity stripe.
• Donovan Stone logged a season-best 16 points and also led Defiance in rebounding with seven points along to match Brown.
• Jalen Brown's seven assists were a season-high to complement his season-best seven boards.
• Defiance had one of the team's best nights at the free throw line in recent history by making their first 17 of the game. DC finished 17-for-20 with the team's highest free throw percentage of the season.
• Sophomore forward Jeffrey Smith made his season debut returning from a hand injury at the end of last season. The Fairview grad recorded four points and was perfect from the floor and free throw line.
• As a team, the Yellow Jackets matched a season-best six made 3-pointers for the third time this year.

UP NEXT
Defiance travels to Siena Heights on Saturday for the team's first test as a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. Tipoff against the Saints is scheduled for 3 p.m. Additionally, the Yellow Jackets matchup against UNOH scheduled to be played in Lima next Wednesday has been moved to Defiance. The women's and men's doubleheader between the Yellow Jackets and Racers will tip off with the women's contest at 5:30 p.m. at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

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