Jackets dealt home loss to Cornerstone on Saturday

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets dropped a 67-49 decision to the Cornerstone Golden Eagles during Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Saturday.

The Yellow Jackets (8-15, 5-12 WHAC) were able to slow the pace into the half court for much of the game and limited the WHAC's top-shooting team to 43 percent on the afternoon. The Golden Eagles (16-8, 12-4 WHAC) were held under 70 points for just the sixth time this year and snapped a six-game streak of shooting over 50 percent.

Both squads got off to a slow start and combined for just seven points through the first four minutes of the game. After some tempo was established, the Yellow Jackets held the upper had through the halfway point of the opening half with a 17-15 advantage. Cornerstone found their 3-point shot with a flurry of treys to build a seven-point lead. Kayden Bird sank a go-ahead triple before Luke Rowlinson knocked down back-to-back treys to extend the run, which eventually totaled 11-0. 

The Golden Eagles opened up the lead to 10 points early in the second half and then to 11 points with 12:24 remaining, but both surges were answered by 3-pointers from Evan Angstmann. Defiance kept the deficit under 10 points until the six-minute mark.

THE TURNING POINT
After Defiance displayed their improvement since the last meeting between the teams, the Golden Eagles clamped down over the last eight minutes. Jalen Brown made a jumper to cut the lead down to seven points at 50-43 but it was quickly answered. After DC missed a trey in trying to answer, Cornerstone center Connor Dykema rocked the rim with a strong dunk that uplifted the Eagles. Parker Chatman drained a hard-earned bucket for Defiance with 7:23 remaining, but that proved to be the last Jacket field goal of the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance missed their last eight shots from the field and finished at 34.5 percent shooting. Their 49 points were a season-low.
• DC forced Cornerstone into 18 turnovers and won that battle after committing 15.
• The Golden Eagles won the glass, 48-30.
• Jalen Brown led the Yellow Jackets with 15 points, fueled by a 6-for-8 afternoon at the free throw line.
• Evan Angstmann nearly missed a double-double for the second straight game with 14 points and nine rebounds.
• Carter Sudhoff was limited to 17 minutes due to foul trouble, but poured in six field goals for 12 points.
• Parker Chatman hit a pair of shots in the paint to match a single-game high for the season.
• The 18-point defeat is a big turnaround from their 118-54 loss to the Golden Eagles in Grand Rapids earlier this season.
• With Michigan-Dearborn's loss to UNOH on Saturday, Defiance remains tied for 10th with the Wolverines for the final spot in the WHAC Tournament.

UP NEXT
Defiance is off until next Saturday and heads to Aquinas for a 3 p.m. tipoff against the Saints.

-JACKETS-