Defiance Looks to Stay Hot Heading Back to Conference Play
January 3, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – After many holiday tournaments, the HCAC men’s basketball schedule enters conference play once again Saturday afternoon. Defiance (8-4, 3-0 HCAC) leads the pack by a half game over Transylvania (6-4, 2-0 HCAC) after the early portion of the conference campaign.
The Yellow Jackets have won six of their past seven games heading into the weekend, including a 53-46 win over previously No. 13 Wisconsin-Oshkosh down in Orlando, Florida. DC’s only loss over the holiday break was a 69-68 defeat to Roanoke in Orlando. Junior center Anthony Pettaway (Toledo, Ohio/Bowsher) recorded a double-double in each of Defiance’s games in the sunshine state. The junior scored 18 points and grabbed 15 boards against Wisconsin-Oshkosh and added a 17 point, 13 rebound effort against Roanoke. Pettaway is averaging 13.8 points per game and ranks third in the HCAC with 7.9 rebounds per outing.
Defiance won their last two games over the holiday, earning a 69-49 road win against Thiel and a 99-61 beating of Tri-State at home. Senior guard C.J. Johnson (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) scored 18 points in the win over Thiel and currently ranks second in the conference with 18.0 points per game. The Jackets will welcome in-state rival Mount St. Joseph to town Saturday afternoon in their only game of the week.
Transylvania (6-4, 2-0 HCAC) is the second conference unbeaten and will look to stay that way with two conference games this week. The Pioneers lost at Maryville (TN) 76-65 and to Centre 66-56 before defeating Spalding 72-49 over the break. Junior forward Joey Verax (Falmouth, Ky./Pendleton Co.) scored 15 points against Maryville and 13 against Spalding to lead the Pioneer effort. The junior averages 14.7 points per game and a conference-best 8.1 rebounds per game this season. Transy will travel to Rose-Hulman Saturday before welcoming Franklin to Lexington January 9.
Bluffton (8-4, 2-1 HCAC) has won four of its past five games as the Beavers head back to HCAC action. BU earned wins over Adrian, Millikin, and Ohio Dominican over the holidays with their only loss coming at Kalamazoo. Junior forward Aaron Taylor (Antwerp, Ohio/Local) led the way with 19 points in the 89-63 win over Adrian and added 15 points in an 85-76 win over Millikin. Senior guard Nate Overmyer (Payne, Ohio/Wayne Trace) continues to lead the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game this season. As a team, Bluffton leads the conference in free throw percentage (81.0%) and rebounds per game (36.8 rpg). The Beavers hold a 5-1 record at home and will face two conference opponents at Founders Hall this week. Anderson will head to town on Saturday before Bluffton and Manchester tangle January 9.
Hanover College (6-6, 2-1 HCAC) has dropped five straight games after posting five wins in a row to drop its record to 6-6. The Panthers fell at Division I Evansville and Illinois Wesleyan before losing both games at the Otterbein Tournament. Senior guard Clint Parker (Brownstown, Ind./Central) scored 27 points to lead the team in a 94-88 loss to Otterbein. Parker leads HC with 14.4 points per game this year. Hanover will have an off date this Saturday and will return to conference play next Wednesday night at home against Anderson.
Manchester (3-8, 1-1 HCAC) has dropped four in a row and will look to find their winning ways in conference action this week. The Spartans lost three road games over the holidays at Franklin & Marshall, Mary Washington, and Elmhurst. Senior guard Jamaal Wade (Indianapolis, Ind./Chatard) scored 18 points in the loss to Elmhurst and currently ranks third in the HCAC with 14.8 points per game. The black and gold will look to snap the four game losing streak at home against Franklin Saturday. MC will look for their first road win of the season at Bluffton on January 9.
Anderson (5-6, 1-2 HCAC) split their four holiday contests over break and will look to get back to the 500 mark in the conference standings this week. The Ravens earned wins over Earlham and Oberlin, while dropping decisions to Millikin and Elmhurst. Junior guard Mike Russell (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) led AU in scoring with 25 points against Millikin, 21 against Elmhust, and added 15 in the win over Oberlin. Those three efforts helped raise his season average to 12.8 points per game. As a team, Anderson leads the conference in scoring with 81.0 points per outing. The Ravens will travel to Bluffton Saturday before a non-conference game with Olivet on Monday, January 7. AU will finish the week with a 7:30 tip at Hanover January 9.
Rose-Hulman (4-7, 1-2 HCAC) has won two of their past three games and will look to ride that momentum this week. The Engineers beat Earlham and Blackburn over the break with their only loss coming to DePauw. Senior guard Ron George (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual) scored 19 points in a 58-48 win over Earlham and leads the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game. Senior forward Jared Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 21 points in a 102-52 thrashing of Blackburn. As a team, RHIT leads the conference in scoring defense (59.6 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (42.6%). The Engineers will entertain Transylvania Saturday afternoon before traveling to Cincinnati for a date with Mount St. Joseph next Wednesday.
Franklin College (5-5, 0-2 HCAC) found their winning ways the past few weeks, earning wins in three of their past four games. The Grizzlies opened with a 64-58 setback at Wabash before claiming the Goaltenders-Bankers Classic championship at home with wins over Earlham and Aurora. Junior guard Jace Redman (Mt. Vernon, Ind./H.S.) scored 16 points in the loss to the Little Giants and added 27 points in the 74-63 win over Aurora. Redman is averaging 14.0 points per game this season. Senior forward Marty Young (Norman, Ind./Brownstown Central) scored 19 points in the Grizzlies 70-58 win over Earlham, raising his scoring average to a team-high 14.1 points per game. FC will play Millikin tonight before returning to conference play Saturday at Manchester. Franklin will end the week next Wednesday at Transylvania.
The College of Mount St. Joseph (5-6, 0-3 HCAC) has struggled as of late, dropping five of their past seven games. The Lions split their four games over break, recording victories against Notre Dame College and Colby-Sawyer. Sophomore forward Michael Romes (Villa Hills, Ky./Beechwood) scored 21 points in an 86-74 loss to Earlham, 21 points in the Lions 68-59 win over Colby-Sawyer in the Tampa Shootout, and added 23 points in a 76-72 loss to DePauw in the championship game of the Tampa Shootout. The sophomore leads the HCAC with 18.2 points per game and a 65.1% shooting percentage. As a team, MSJ leads the conference in field goal percentage (50.7%) and three point field goal percentage (40.5%). The Mount will welcome Adrian to town tonight before entering conference play at Defiance Saturday. The Lions will return home next Wednesday for a showdown with Rose-Hulman.
Men’s Basketball Schedule (Jan. 3-Jan. 9)
Jan. 3 |
Adrian at Mount St. Joseph |
7:30 PM |
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Millikin at Franklin |
7:30 PM |
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Jan. 5 |
Transylvania at Rose-Hulman |
3:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Defiance |
3:00 PM |
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Franklin at Manchester |
3:00 PM |
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Anderson at Bluffton |
3:00 PM |
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Jan. 7 |
Anderson at Olivet |
7:00 PM |
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Jan. 9 |
Rose-Hulman at Mount St. Joseph |
7:30 PM |
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Franklin at Transylvania |
7:30 PM |
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Manchester at Bluffton |
7:30 PM |
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Anderson at Hanover |
7:30 PM |