Defiance and Transylvania Hold Control of Hoops Race After Early HCAC Schedule
December 13, 2007
GREENWOOD , IN – The early portion of the HCAC schedule is complete and two schools sit with unblemished conference records. Defiance has a slight advantage over Transylvania as the Yellow Jackets have posted a 3-0 mark while the Pioneers sit 2-0. The conference portion of the schedule will continue on January 5.
Defiance (5-3, 3-0 HCAC) heads to the holiday’s on a three game win streak, including wins in four of their past five games. The Jackets defeated Hanover 70-54 to claim the top spot in the conference standings. Junior center Anthony Pettaway (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher) scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Panthers to earn him Player of the Week honors. The junior is averaging 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season. DC has been led by the scoring threat of senior guard C.J. Johnson (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales). Johnson is averaging a conference-best 20.8 points per game this season. Defiance will travel down to Orlando, Florida to take on Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Roanoke at the RDV Sportsplex Classic on December 18-19.
Transylvania (5-2, 2-0 HCAC) is also unbeaten in conference play and has won four straight games heading into the non-conference schedule. The Pioneers earned a 79-61 home win over Manchester last Saturday. Junior guard Aaron Cash (Brodhead, Ky./Rockcastle Co.) scored 20 points and junior forward Joey Verax (Falmouth, Ky./Pendleton Co.) added 14 points and 14 rebounds in the win over the Spartans. Verax leads Transy with 15.3 points per game and ranks second in the HCAC with 8.3 rebounds per game. The Pioneers will travel to Maryville (TN) December 17 for a 7:30 tip.
Hanover College (6-2, 2-1 HCAC) dropped their first conference game and snapped a five game win streak with a 70-54 home loss to Defiance. Senior guard Clint Parker (Brownstown, Ind./Brownstown Central) scored 17 points against the Jackets and leads the Panthers with 15.0 points per game this season. Senior center Robby Brown (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont) grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss and raised his conference-best average to 8.9 rebounds per game. As a team, Hanover leads the HCAC in scoring defense, allowing only 58.6 points per game. HC will face a Division I opponent on Saturday night, as the Panthers face off with Evansville of the Missouri Valley Conference. Hanover will then travel to Illinois Wesleyan on December 18.
Bluffton (5-3, 2-1 HCAC) notched another win last Saturday, claiming a 67-59 win at Rose-Hulman. The Beavers were led by senior guard Nate Overmyer (Payne, Ohio/Wayne Trace) who scored 20 points in the win over the Engineers. Overmyer leads BU with 15.1 points per game this season. Bluffton will face Adrian at home Saturday afternoon before traveling to Kalamazoo on December 18.
Manchester (3-5, 1-1 HCAC) has lost three of their last four games, including a 79-61 defeat at Transylvania. Senior guard Jamaal Wade (Indianapolis, Ind./Chatard) scored 16 points in the loss and currently ranks third in the HCAC with 15.4 points per game this year. The Spartans lead the HCAC in free throw percentage, connecting on 81.0% of their attempts. Manchester will face Franklin & Marshall on December 18 in a non-conference affair.
Anderson (3-4, 1-2 HCAC) snapped a two-game losing streak with an 87-74 win over Mount St. Joseph. Junior guard Brandon Coffer (Indianapolis, Ind./ Lawrence North) scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead AU in the win over the Lions. Sophomore guard Ryan Fultz (Knightstown, Ind./H.S.) continues to pace Anderson in the scoring column, averaging 14.7 points per game. The Ravens will travel to Earlham December 13 and Olivet December 15 this week.
Rose-Hulman (2-6, 1-2 HCAC) has dropped six of seven games, falling to Bluffton 67-59 last Saturday. Senior guard Ron George (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual) scored 21 points to lead the Engineer effort and currently leads the squad with 14.5 points per game this year. Rose leads the conference in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to convert on only 43.8% of their attempts. RHIT will have a busy week coming up with three non-conference home dates. The Engineers welcome Earlham to town December 15, DePauw on December 17, and Blackburn on December 19.
Franklin College (3-4, 0-2 HCAC) got back into the win column with a 73-57 win over North Central ( Ill.), snapping a three game losing streak. Senior forward Marty Young (Norman, Ind./Brownstown Central) scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the win for the Grizzlies. Young is averaging 14.3 points per game, while ranking third in the HCAC in rebounds (8.0 rpg) and first in field goal percentage (65.6%). FC will entertain Millikin on December 15 before traveling to Wabash on December 18.
The College of Mount St. Joseph (3-4, 0-3 HCAC) dropped their third straight contest, falling at Anderson 87-74. The Lions were led by senior forward Michael Eirons (Huron, Ohio/H.S.) who scored 27 points in the win. Eirons is averaging a team-high 15.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Mount leads the HCAC with 82.3 points per game, a 52.4% field goal percentage, and a 43.8% three-point field goal percentage. MSJ will look for their first road win on December 15 at Elmhurst and will return home to take on Notre Dame College (OH) on December 18.
Men’s Basketball Schedule (Dec. 13-Dec. 19)
Dec. 13 |
Anderson at Earlham |
7:30 PM |
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Dec. 15 |
Earlham at Rose-Hulman |
3:00 PM |
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Adrian at Bluffton |
3:00 PM |
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Millikin at Franklin |
3:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Elmhurst |
3:00 PM |
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Anderson at Olivet |
5:00 PM |
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Hanover at Evansville |
7:05 PM |
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Dec. 17 |
DePauw at Rose-Hulman |
7:30 PM |
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Transylvania at Maryville (TN) |
7:30 PM |
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Dec. 18 |
Defiance vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (at Orlando, Fla.) |
4:00 PM |
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Manchester at Franklin & Marshall |
7:00 PM |
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Franklin at Wabash |
7:30 PM |
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Notre Dame College (OH) at Mount St. Joseph |
7:30 PM |
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Bluffton at Kalamazoo |
7:30 PM |
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Hanover at Illinois Wesleyan |
7:30 PM |
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Dec. 19 |
Defiance vs. Roanoke (at Orlando, Fla.) |
5:00 PM |
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Blackburn at Rose-Hulman |
8:00 PM |