Defiance Knocks off Rival Bluffton for Fourth Straight Conference Win
January 31, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – Defiance College has led the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball race from the start and continues to play great basketball. The Jackets will look to keep their winning ways as the calendar changes to February on the conference schedule. Defiance’s lone defeat was a home loss to Franklin back on January 16. Transylvania, Hanover, and Anderson each trail DC by three games in the win column with just over three weeks left in the regular season.
The Jackets (14-5, 9-1 HCAC) ran their win streak to four straight after notching wins over Hanover and Bluffton this week. Defiance received 21 points from senior guard C.J. Johnson (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) in a 58-49 win at home against Hanover. Johnson earned Player of the Week honors and leads the HCAC in scoring with 20.4 points per game. Junior center Anthony Pettaway (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher) scored a career-high 28 points and added 10 rebounds in a 90-71 victory against Bluffton. Pettaway ranks third in the conference with 7.4 rebounds per game. As a team, DC leads the conference in scoring margin (+11.6 ppg), field-goal percentage defense (43.8%), and three-point field-goal percentage defense (29.3%). Defiance will look to stay perfect on the road in conference play as they head to Mount St. Joseph Saturday afternoon.
Transylvania (11-7, 6-3 HCAC) earned a split during the week, recording a win over Manchester and falling to Anderson. The Pioneers began the week with a 68-64 road win against the Spartans. Sophomore guard Tim Tierney (Ft. Wright, Ky./ Covington Catholic) scored a team-high 19 points in the win to lead Transy. TU’s three game win streak came to an end in a 71-53 home loss to Anderson. Sophomore guard Matthew Parton (Knoxville, Tenn./ Knoxville Catholic) scored 14 points and added six rebounds in the loss to the Ravens. The Pioneers will welcome a hot Rose-Hulman squad to Lexington Saturday afternoon, before trying to stay unblemished on the road in conference play at Franklin.
Hanover (10-9, 6-4 HCAC) remained a half game out of second place after last week’s action. The Panthers lost at Defiance 58-49 and earned an 85-63 win against Mount St. Joseph to earn a split. Sophomore forward Eric Parker (Brownstown, Ind./Central) scored 12 points to lead the effort against Defiance. Senior forward Marc O’Leary (Terre Haute, Ind./North) scored 23 points to lead the Panthers over the Lions. As a team, Hanover leads the HCAC in three-point field-goal percentage, connecting on 40.0% of their attempts from behind the arc. Hanover will travel to Anderson next Wednesday in their only game of the week.
Anderson (10-10, 6-5 HCAC) has been playing their best basketball of the season and added two more conference wins to the list this past week. The Ravens won at Mount St. Joseph 70-68 and handled Transylvania on the road 71-53. AU has won three straight games and four of their last five heading into this weekend. Junior guard Mike Russell (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) scored 18 points against the Lions and currently ranks third in the conference with 17.1 points per game. Freshman guard Jordan Wiseman (Fortville, Ind./Lapel) scored 16 points to lead the Ravens in their win over Transy. As a team, Anderson leads the conference in scoring (77.0 ppg), blocks (59), and steals per game (10.9 pg). AU will welcome Bluffton to town Saturday afternoon and will remain home to host Hanover February 6.
Bluffton (11-8, 5-5 HCAC) dropped two more conference games and has now lost three in a row to fall back into a tie for fifth place in the standings. The Beavers fell at home to Rose-Hulman 63-60 and lost at Defiance 90-71. Junior forward Aaron Taylor (Antwerp, Ohio/Local) led the scoring effort in both games, scoring 15 points against the Engineers and 21 points against the Jackets. The Beavers lead the HCAC in free throw percentage (79.6%) and rebounding (35.1 rpg). Bluffton will look to continue their good play on the road in conference contests. BU holds a 3-1 record away from home and will travel to Anderson and Manchester this week.
Rose-Hulman (9-10, 5-5 HCAC) earned two victories this week and has posted W’s in five of their last six games. The Engineers won at Bluffton 63-60 last Saturday and posted a 77-71 overtime win at home over Franklin last night. Senior forward Jared Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 16 points against the Beavers to lead the team in scoring. Senior guard Ron George (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) sent the game into overtime against the Grizzlies on a deep three-point bucket and totaled 31 points in the win. George leads the team in scoring with 14.5 points per game. The RHIT defense leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 61.9 points per game. Rose will travel to Transylvania Saturday afternoon before a Wednesday night affair with Mount St. Joseph.
Franklin (10-8, 4-5 HCAC) lost in its only game last week, dropping a 77-71 overtime game at Rose-Hulman. The Grizzlies have lost two in a row and will look to get back on track this week. Senior forward Marty Young (Norman, Ind./Brownstown Central) scored 18 points in the loss to the Engineers. Young ranks second in the conference in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (7.9 rpg), and shooting percentage (65.3%). Sophomore guard Jeff Gasser (Muncie, Ind./ Yorktown) also added 18 points in the losing effort. FC will look to improve upon its 1-3 home record in conference as Manchester and Transylvania enter the Spurlock Center this week.
Mount St. Joseph (8-11, 2-8 HCAC) ran its losing streak to three straight, dropping a 70-68 decision to Anderson and an 85-63 defeat at Hanover. The Lions were led by sophomore forward Michael Romes (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood) in the losses. Romes scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss to Anderson and notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards against Hanover. Senior forward Michael Eirons (Huron, Ohio/H.S.) added a team-high 17 points in the loss to the Panthers. The Mount continues to pace the league in shooting percentage this season, converting 49.3% of their field-goal attempts. MSJ will welcome conference-leader Defiance to Cincinnati Saturday and will look for their first conference road win at Rose-Hulman next week.
Manchester (3-15, 1-8 HCAC) lost a hard fought game at home to Transylvania 68-64 in the Spartans’ lone game of the week. Freshman forward Mitch Schaefer (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll) scored 15 points in the loss to the Pioneers. The Spartans have dropped 11 in a row since last recording a win over Mount St. Joseph on December 1. The black and gold will look for their first road win of the season Saturday at Franklin. Manchester returns home for a game with Bluffton next Wednesday.
Men’s Basketball Schedule (Jan. 31-Feb. 6)
Feb. 2 |
Defiance at Mount St. Joseph |
3:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Transylvania |
3:00 PM |
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Manchester at Franklin |
3:00 PM |
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Bluffton at Anderson |
3:00 PM |
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Feb. 6 |
Mount St. Joseph at Rose-Hulman |
7:30 PM |
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Transylvania at Franklin |
7:30 PM |
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Bluffton at Manchester |
7:30 PM |
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Hanover at Anderson |
7:30 PM |