Jackets hang tough with #9 Indiana Tech despite loss on Wednesday

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets turned in another inspiring defensive effort with an offensive turnaround in the second half before dropping a 64-53 contest to the Indiana Tech Warriors at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday.

The Yellow Jackets (6-5, 1-5 WHAC) held the 9th-ranked Warriors (11-1, 7-0 WHAC) to a season-low 64 points. Indiana Tech came into the game averaging 89.6 points per game, the 15th-best in the NAIA.

Both teams struggled to score early and were tied 9-9 through the first 10 minutes before Indiana Tech created the distance that defined the rest of the game. While the Yellow Jackets went cold from the floor and endured 8 minutes without a field goal, the Warriors posted a 14-2 run led by 12 straight points by Jaxson Fugate. Carder Orr snapped that drought with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left in the opening half, which was DC's first bucket since Jalen Brown drained a pull-up jumper at the halfway point of the half.

After trailing 29-14 at the half, Defiance found a spark early in the second half with buckets by freshmen Wren Sheets and Baylen Blockberger. The two sides went back-and-forth for a few minutes but Indiana Tech widened its lead to 19 with 11 minutes left in the game. The Jackets started to chip away starting with consecutive 3-pointers by Isaiah Meade-Moss to trim it down to 13. Jalen Brown connected on his lone trey of the evening with less than 8 minutes left to bring DC within 12. Later layups by Meade-Moss and Sheets helped DC get within 10 points before a fast break layup by Christian Burton broke the 10-point barrier with 3:36 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets surged back as close as 8 points with 1:39 remaining but the Warriors used a layup and three free throws to create additional breathing room in the last minute.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Defiance shot just 5-for-31 in the first half and 2-for-16 from 3-point range for their lowest-scoring half of the season (14 points).
• In the second half, the Jackets won the period by outscoring Indiana Tech 39-35. DC also shot 45 percent (15-33) to overcome their early-game woes.
• DC's strength on the glass was key to keeping the game from getting out of hand. The Jackets outrebounded the Warriors, 41-32, and limited second-chance points for Indiana Tech to 10. Indiana Tech was also limited to just 4 offensive rebounds.
• Christian Burton led Defiance with 18 points, marking his fifth game in double figures this year. He also posted a game-high 3 steals.
• Jalen Brown joined Burton in double digits with 10 points off the bench while collecting 4 rebounds.
• Carder Orr and Wren Sheet led the Jackets on the boards with 10 and 8, respectively. The effort was Orr's second game with double-digit rebounds this year. The big man combo produced 11 total points, 6 for Sheets and 5 by Orr.
• Isaiah Meade-Moss added 8 points for DC and sank two 3-pointers.

UP NEXT
Defiance travels to Western Michigan on Monday for its second Division I exhibition game of the year. Tipoff against the Broncos at University Arena in Kalamazoo is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-