Box Score
Defiance College blew open a four-point halftime lead by shooting a blistering 76 percent in the second half today, as they defeated the Mount in the Harrington Center, 75-64. The Lions fall to 6-9 overall, 2-6 in the HCAC and will be back in action on Jan. 18 at HCAC-leader Transylvania University.
The Yellow Jackets grabbed a 30-26 lead at the intermission thanks to out-shooting the Lions, 63 to 46 percent from the field, including making five-of-10 from behind the three-point arc. The Lions were also out-rebounded 12-6 in the opening half, allowing Defiance six, second chance points. VJ Evans (Dayton, OH/Chaminade-Julienne) led the Mount's first half surge with 13 points.
Defiance pushed their lead out to double-digits, 39-29, just 2:35 into the second half, as they hit their first three shots from the field. They would grab a 22-point advantage at the 12:09 mark, after a three-point field goal. The Mount, however, would go on a run of their own over the next 6:25 cutting the deficit to 61-52 at the 5:44 mark. David Mann (Fairfield, OH/Cincinnati Christian) fired in a three-pointer with 1:31 to play, cutting the Defiance lead to 70-62 but the Mount would get no closer as Defiance's Logan Wolfrum had a three-point play with 59 seconds left and the Yellow Jackets connected on two-of-three free throws in the final 39 seconds of action. The Lions missed two layups and a three-pointer in the final 48 seconds of the game.
The Yellow Jackets made 28-of-40 shots from the field, good for 70 percent while the Mount connected on 49 percent from the field. Defiance was also 10-of-23 from long range while the Mount was eight-of-15 from behind the three-point arc. Defiance out-rebounded the Mount, 22-16 but committed 12 turnovers while the Lions had nine miscues.
Mann led the Mount with 18 points while Evans finished with 15 points. David Lane (Hamilton, OH/Ross) had eight points and seven assists. Andy Countryman (Peebles, OH/Peebles) chipped in 13 points and five rebounds while teammate Clifford Cass (Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Healthy) added six points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
