Jackets capture first conference win with emotional second half

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets came away with a scrappy 86-80 win over the UNOH Racers to secure the team's first conference win as a member of the WHAC on Wednesday at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

The Yellow Jackets (3-4, 1-1 WHAC) started out this back -and-forth affair against the Racers (2-4, 0-1 WHAC) by going down 4-0, then scored five straight in 19 seconds to take the lead. This set the tone immediately as each side jockeyed for position through the first 10 minutes. 

The two teams traded bucket after bucket with the largest lead in the first half only getting to eight for the Racers after they made two shots from deep late in the first half. The Jackets were quick to answer as they got two late buckets of their own to cut the lead to just four. DC's Connor Bush made his presence felt immediately as he scored 11 of the first 16 points before going on to a 33-point night. On the other hand, the Racers' Ryan Archey put up 22 in the first half by going 5-for-6 from deep before halftime. 

The second half started much the same as Jalen Brown quickly drained one from deep, but the Racers responded with a 6-0 run to rebuild a small lead. The back-and-forth affair continued with Defiance scoring five of their own, never letting the Racers get out of sight.

THE TURNING POINT
With 12:18 to play in the second half, Carter Sudhoff made a tough drive to the basket for a layup putting the Jackets within one. After Jayden Priddey-Powell for the Racers brought the ball back across half-court, Bush picked his pocket, picked up the loose ball and slammed home a go-ahead dunk to put the Yellow Jackets up by one. Even with the Racers retaking the lead on the other end, the game ran through the Yellow Jackets as they outplayed the Racers from that point on. They slowly built a lead before a quick 6-0 run put them up by 10, the largest lead of the night at that point with three minutes to play. 

With both teams in foul trouble, the Racers tried mounting several comebacks but each time UNOH managed to draw close, a costly foul hurt them as the Yellow Jackets took advantage of their chances going 26-of-35 from the foul line. The Racers closed the gap to within four but with 10 seconds remaining, they fouled Jalen Brown, who made both free throws to ice the game for the Yellow Jackets.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Yellow Jackets earned their first conference win of the season, which was the first by the DC men's basketball team Feb. 14, 2023 vs. Earlham to snap a 20-game drought.
• Defiance is now 3-1 at home with three straight on their home court.
• DC's 86 points was a season-best while holding the WHAC's leading offense to 80 points after entering with a 93.4 points per game average.
• Connor Bush's 33 points is the most by a Yellow Jacket this season and his second performance of 20 points or more. Bush went 12-for-15 at the line and was one of three players with four assists.
• Jordyn Jury played 16 minutes off the bench with some big-time play down the stretch. He added several key defensive rebounds and a steal on a breakaway by the Racers. The junior finished with four points and five rebounds to lead all players outside the starting lineup.
• Evan Angstman was effective from deep going 3-fo-4 from behind the arc. It was his second performance of the year with a trifecta of makes from outside the arc.
• Carter Sudhoff led the Yellow Jackets with 11 rebounds and three blocks. He posted eight points, all of which were in the second half.
• Jalen Brown posted 16 points for Defiance, 14 of which were after halftime and matched Bush's second-half output.
• DC shot 47 percent from the floor to outperform the Racers' 36-percent clip.
• Defiance went 26-for-35 from the free throw line, marking the most makes and attempts at the charity stripe in the Coach Gibson era. 

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets host Lourdes on Saturday with a 3 p.m. tipoff against the Gray Wolves at the Karl H. Weaner Center. DC's women's team will play prior to the men's contest at 1 p.m.

Written by Logan Kunkel

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