Fast start fizzles for DC at Rochester Christian

ROCHESTER, Mich. - An early lead for the Defiance Yellow Jackets was flipped on its head by the Rochester Christian Warriors to hand DC an 82-66 defeat on Wednesday at Garth Pleasant Arena. 

The Yellow Jackets (6-12, 3-9 WHAC) have lost consecutive games for the first time since putting a new calendar on the wall. The Warriors (14-6, 6-6 WHAC) climbed back to .500 in conference play after starting league play 1-4.

Defiance enjoyed a hot start to the contest by building a 20-13 lead. As a team, the Jackets started out 6-for-9 from the floor and canned their first three attempts outside the arc with makes from Jalen Brown, Evan Angstmann and Devonte Curry. 

Rochester Christian did not let DC enjoy their early perch for long and embarked on a 13-0 run to flip the game around. Following a Curry 3-pointer at the 13:09 mark, Defiance did not add another bucket Zahyem Bradwell muscled in a layup with 7:55 left in the half. DC brought it back to within three points but couldn't slow down the Warriors, who completed a 29-11 rally over the last 13 minutes of the period.

The second half saw the Warriors keep up what they started before the half. Defiance briefly trimmed the deficit to 10 points halfway through the second 20 minutes but Rochester Christian responded with a 12-3 run. The gap grew to as much as 20 points in the closing minutes.

THE TURNING POINT
Rochester Christian's 13-0 run in the first half completely changed the game. Defiance was scoreless for more than five minutes and missed four straight shots with three turnovers to spoil a seven-point lead. After starting 3-for-3 from outside, the Jackets went 1-for-13 on the perimeter the remainder of the half while the Warriors posted a 56 percent half shooting the basketball.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Rochester Christian's 82 points are the most scored by a Defiance opponent in six January games and are the most since UM-Dearborn posted 93 points on Dec. 18.
• With a shooting percentage of 36.4 percent, Defiance shot below 40 percent in consecutive games for the first time since the end of November.
• Three-point shooting haunted Defiance after the hot start by missing their last 12 attempts from outside.
• The Jackets turned in a strong showing at the free throw line, going 22-for-28 for the team's third game with 20 points at the line. Ten of DC's made free throws came from Jalen Brown.
• Connor Bush posted a game-high 25 points off the DC bench, his third game with 20 points or more on the campaign. He also secured a team-best seven rebounds.
• Jalen Brown and Christian Burton also broke into double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets continue their road swing with a trip to Madonna on Saturday. Tipoff against the Crusaders is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will follow the women's contest that begins at 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-