Five-Game Win STreak Comes to End for DC Men

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Defiance's hopes of defending the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference crown took a major hit on Wednesday, as a 53-48 defeat at Transylvania dropped the Jackets two full games out of the HCAC lead with only five games to play.

Defiance took the hardwood in a tie for second place with TU and hoping to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Pioneers. Those hopes were dashed however, as DC turned in its lowest scoring output of the year and saw just four players crack the scoring column.

The Jackets got all 48 points from the starting quartet of Anthony Pettaway, Nick Sales, Heath Armstrong and Mike Floyd and only had two other players attempt a shot in the game.

The lack of scoring from the supporting cast was noticeable from the opening tip when Pettaway and Sales netted the first 14 points of the evening for Defiance. The post duo went on to sink eight of 10 shots to open the game and scored a combined 16 points to lead Defiance to a 19-19 tie with 6:30 left in the opening half.

Pettaway and Sales ended the first period a combined nine-of-12 from the floor for 18 points, while the remaining Yellow Jackets managed to hit only two-of-nine attempts for a total of seven points. The result was a 31-25 halftime edge for Transylvania, who held at least a share of the lead for the entire opening 20 minutes.

Pettaway sandwiched a hoop from Floyd with two buckets of his own to open the second stanza and the Jackets used the 6-0 spurt out of the break to knot the score at 31-31. DC kept the pressure coming and eventually extended the 6-0 stretch into a 17-7 run to open the half and grabbed its largest lead of the night at 42-38 with 7:51 left in the game.

The Pioneers would charge right back however, scoring the game's next six points to reclaim the lead and using an Aaron Cash dagger from three-point range to cap an 11-2 flurry.

When the dust had settled, the home team held a 49-44 advantage with only 1:39 showing on the clock. DC tried to respond but saw several shots rim out in the closing moments and Transylvania came away with the hard-fought, 53-48, win.

Pettaway led all players with 18 points, while Sales notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Floyd and Armstrong combined for the rest of the 18 points scored by Defiance.

The Jackets, who lost for only the fourth time in their last 16 outings, will look to get back on track on Saturday. DC (13-7, 8-3 HCAC) will host Anderson (14-7, 7-5 HCAC) at 3:00 pm inside the Karl H. Weaner Community Center.