Defiance Travels to Hanover for HCAC Control in Men’s Hoops
December 6, 2007
GREENWOOD , IN – As the HCAC men’s basketball season heads to the second week of action, Defiance and Hanover sit as the only two squads at 2-0 in conference action. That will change Saturday afternoon when the two conference foes meet at Hanover College. After this weekend, HCAC action will not return until Saturday, Jan. 5.
Hanover (6-1, 2-0 HCAC) enters Saturday’s game with Defiance riding a five game winning streak. The Panthers earned two wins on the road in their last week of action, claiming a 58-47 win at Rose-Hulman and a 66-61 win in Cincinnati over Mount St. Joseph. Senior guard Clint Parker (Brownstown, Ind./Brownstown Central) was the leading scorer in both Panther wins. Parker netted 13 points in the win over Rose and added 18 points in the win against the Lions. For the season, the senior is averaging 14.7 points per game to lead HC.
Senior center Robby Brown (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) has been a rebounding force for Hanover this season. In their last two wins, Brown grabbed 12 rebounds against RHIT and nine in the win over Mount St. Joseph. The senior leads the HCAC with 8.7 rebounds per game this season.
As a team, Hanover currently leads the HCAC in scoring defense, allowing only 57.0 points per game this season. After Saturday’s showdown with the Jackets, Hanover will return to action on December 15 at Division I member Evansville.
Defiance (4-3, 2-0 HCAC) enters the battle with Hanover claming wins in three of their last four games. The Jackets earned victories over Anderson and Bluffton last week to move atop the conference standings. Senior guard C.J. Johnson (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Jackets 74-67 win over AU. He bettered that effort with 30 points, including eight three point baskets, in Defiance’s 86-70 win over rival Bluffton. Johnson has led Defiance in scoring five out of the seven games this season and currently leads the HCAC in scoring with 21.9 points per game.
Junior center Anthony Pettaway (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher) recorded his first double-double of the season against Bluffton. The junior scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over the Beavers. He also grabbed 12 boards in the win over Anderson. Pettaway is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game so far this season for DC.
The Yellow Jackets will not play again until December 18-19. Defiance will travel down to Orlando, Florida to take on Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Roanoke at the RDV Sportsplex Classic.
Around the HCAC...
Transylvania (4-2, 1-0 HCAC) has now won three straight games after posting two victories this past week. The Pioneers earned a 50-45 non-conference win over Wittenberg last Saturday and defeated Anderson 78-70 last night. Junior forward Joey Verax (Falmouth, Ky./Pendleton Co.) led the Transy effort in the win over Wittenberg, scoring 13 points and adding 15 rebounds. He posted his second double-double of the week with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Ravens. Verax ranks third in the conference in points (15.5 ppg) and rebounds (7.3 rpg) per game. Junior guard Aaron Cash (Brodhead, Ky./Rockcastle Co.) and sophomore guard Matthew Parton (Knoxville, Ten./Knoxville Catholic) each scored 14 points in the Pioneers 78-70 win over Anderson to lead the team in scoring. TU will welcome Manchester to Lexington Saturday afternoon to decide who will stay unbeaten in conference play. After Saturday’s game, Transy will not return to action until December 17 at Maryville (TN).
Manchester (3-4, 1-0 HCAC) earned an 87-85 win over Mount St. Joseph last Saturday in their only game of the week. Junior forward Jeff Grabowski (Ft. Wayne, Ind./ Homestead) scored 20 points in the win over the Lions and leads the conference in field goal percentage (63.8%) so far this season. Senior forward Jake Koziel (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie) added 19 points and five rebounds in the win to help lead the Spartans to a conference win. Manchester has been led this season by senior guard Jamaal Wade (Indianapolis, Ind./Chatard). Wade leads the team in scoring and rebounding with 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Manchester currently ranks first in the conference in free throw percentage, connecting on 84.4% of their attempts. MC travels to take on Transylvania Saturday and will not play again until a December 18 road trip to Franklin and Marshall.
Bluffton University (4-3, 1-1 HCAC) split a pair of conference games this past week of play. The Beavers opened conference play last Saturday with a 96-90 road win over Franklin, before dropping an 86-70 decision at home to rival Defiance. Senior forward P.J. Juenger (Loveland, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) scored 22 points on 9 of 10 shooting in the 96-90 win over the Grizzlies. Junior guard Colt Cunningham (Powell, Ohio/ Worthington Christian) shot 6 for 6 from the field and netted 21 points in the Bluffton win. As a team, BU connected on 65.9% of their attempts from the field against Franklin. Senior guard Nate Overmyer (Payne, Ohio/Wayne Trace) continues to lead BU in scoring this season (14.4 ppg) after posting 17 points against Franklin and 15 in the loss to the Yellow Jackets. Bluffton will travel to Terre Haute for a date with Rose-Hulman this Saturday afternoon and will enjoy a week off before welcoming Adrian to town on December 15.
Rose-Hulman (2-5, 1-1 HCAC) snapped a five game losing skid with a 59-58 road win over Franklin Wednesday night. Senior guard Ron George (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual) scored 19 points to lead the Engineers in the win over Franklin and currently leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game this season. Last Saturday, Rose fell at home to Hanover 58-47. Senior forward Jared Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 17 points in the loss to pace the Engineers. Rose-Hulman shot a blistering 62.9% from the field in the win over Franklin and struggled to shoot the ball well in the loss to Hanover, connecting on only 38.6% of their field goal attempts. As a team, Rose leads the conference in field goal percentage defense, surrendering a percentage of 42.9% this season. RHIT will play host to Bluffton Saturday and welcome Blackburn to town next Tuesday, December 11.
The College of Mount St. Joseph (3-3, 0-2 HCAC) is off to a disappointing 0-2 start in conference play after dropping an 87-85 decision at Manchester and a 66-61 defeat at home against Hanover. The Lions have lost three of their last four ballgames. Sophomore forward Michael Romes (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood) scored 25 points in the loss to the Spartans and 15 in the loss to Hanover to lead the Lions in scoring both games. The sophomore ranks second in the HCAC in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. Senior forward Michael Eirons (Huron, Ohio/H.S.) recorded a double-double in the loss to Manchester, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He turned in an 11 point, seven rebound effort against Hanover. He leads the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and is averaging 13.2 points per game this season. As a team, the Mount leads the conference in points per game (83.7 ppg), field goal percentage (53.0%), and three-point field goal percentage (45.5%). MSJ will look for their first conference win this Saturday at Anderson and then will return to action on December 15 at Elmhurst.
Anderson (2-4, 0-2 HCAC) dropped both games last week, falling at Defiance 74-67 and at home against Transylvania 78-70. The Ravens held a 37-36 lead at the half against the Pioneers, but were outscored 42-33 in the second half. Junior guard Mike Russell (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) scored 16 points and hit four three point baskets in the loss to Transy. Sophomore guard Ryan Fultz (Knightstown, Ind./H.S.) scored 14 points to lead Anderson against Defiance. Fultz leads the team in scoring this season with 14.5 points per game. Anderson and Mount St. Joseph will look for their first conference win Saturday at Anderson. AU will return to non-conference play December 13 at Earlham.
Pre-season favorite Franklin College (2-4, 0-2 HCAC) will have to dig themselves out of a hole in order to repeat as conference champions. The Grizzlies have lost three straight, including two conference games. Franklin fell at home to Bluffton 96-90 last Saturday, before dropping a disappointing 59-58 defeat at home against Rose-Hulman. The Franklin defense surrendered very high shooting percentages in both losses, allowing Bluffton to connect on 65.9% of their attempts from the field and Rose on 62.9% of their attempts. Senior forward Marty Young (Norman, Ind./Brownstown Central) was the only player in double figures against the Engineers, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the losing effort. Young scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss to Bluffton. The senior is averaging 13.2 points per game and ranks second in the conference with 7.5 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies will have to wait until January 5 to try and get their first conference win against Manchester. FC returns to non-conference action Saturday at home against North Central ( Ill.).
Men’s Basketball Schedule (Dec. 8-Dec. 12)
Dec. 8 |
Defiance at Hanover |
3:00 PM |
|
Bluffton at Rose-Hulman |
3:00 PM |
|
Manchester at Transylvania |
3:00 PM |
|
Mount St. Joseph at Anderson |
3:00 PM |
|
North Central ( Ill.) at Franklin |
5:00 PM |
|
|
|
Dec. 11 |
Blackburn at Rose-Hulman |
8:00 PM |