Jackets fall in another tight contest against UNOH

LIMA, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets put together a strong first-half effort but fell to the UNOH Racers, 78-71, in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action Saturday at The Garage.

The Yellow Jackets (6-4, 1-4 WHAC) came looking to stack consecutive WHAC wins, while the Racers (3-8, 1-4 WHAC) were trying to bounce back from an 86-57 loss to Lawrence Tech.

The Yellow Jackets came out firing in the opening minutes. Wren Sheets scored first with a layup, followed by strong defensive play from Christian Burton that generated early scoring opportunities. Evan Angstmann hit the game's first 3-pointer at the 13:10 mark, sparking an 11-0 run that gave DC a 13-4 lead. Isaiah Meade-Moss added consecutive triples, and Thomas Hallett capped the spurt with his own 3-pointer at 10:11. For much of the first half, Defiance's scoring came almost exclusively from beyond the arc with 7 treys before the half.

UNOH chipped away at the deficit before the break, led by Antonio King and Alex Benson, keeping the Racers within striking distance. A technical foul against UNOH briefly swung momentum back to DC, and the Yellow Jackets maintained a slim 32-27 lead at halftime thanks in large part to Thomas Hallett's 10 points and three triples, and Burton's all-around effort distributing the ball and anchoring the defense.

The second half opened with UNOH gaining the upper hand. The Racers' aggressive play in the paint and timely three-pointers allowed them to take their first lead at the 12:40 mark. Despite the surge, Defiance responded with key plays from Sheets, who converted an And-One at 11:55 to tie the game at 49-49.

As the half progressed, UNOH built a lead, taking advantage of turnovers and controlling the boards, while Defiance continued to battle back through outside shooting. Evan Angstmann finished with five three-pointers and 19 points, Thomas Hallett added a season-high 13 points on four threes, and Christian Burton contributed eight assists to keep DC in the contest. Isaiah Meade-Moss chipped in 8 points, and Sheets added several timely baskets to prevent the game from slipping away entirely.

In the final minutes, the Yellow Jackets clawed within 2 points but UNOH put the game away with a series of free throws and a late dagger 3-pointer by Alex Benson. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance shot 37.9% from the field, including 41% from three-point range, while UNOH finished 49.2% overall and 41.9% from beyond the arc.
• Burton led in assists with 8, and the Yellow Jackets outrebounded UNOH 30-18 on the defensive glass.
• Angstmann and Hallett led DC's scoring, with Sheets and Meade-Moss providing critical support.
• Turnovers (16) and points off those turnovers (30) allowed UNOH to gain a decisive edge in the second half.
• Defiance had narrowly won both previous meetings against UNOH last season prior to today's loss. With today's 7-point spread, all three meetings between the schools have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

Up Next
Defiance will return to action at home on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., looking to bounce back and build momentum in conference play.

-JACKETS-