Mount men's basketball teams drops conference road game at Defiance College, 76-65

Host Defiance College used a 14-1 scoring spree in the second half on Saturday afternoon to take a lead over the Mount, and held on to post a 76-65 win. The Lions go to 12-8 overall, 9-5 in the HCAC and will return to action on Feb. 12 at Bluffton University. The Mount currrently sits in fourth place in the conference, behind Rose-Hulman, Defiance and Hanover. There are four games left on the conference schedule, with the top six teams advancing to the HCAC Tournament.

The Lions jumped out to a 21-8 lead in the first half, at the 11:29 mark, but allowed the home team Yellow Jackets back into the game before intermission, with the two teams ending the first half in a 33-all tie. Andy Countryman (Peebles, OH/Peebles) converted a steal into a fast break lay-up with 15:55 on the clock in the second half, giving his team a 46-41 lead. Defiance would rally, however, to outscore the Lions by 13 points over the next four minutes, to grab a decisive 55-47 lead. The Mount's Bobby Murdock (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson) would hit a three-point shot on his team's next possession, cutting the deficit to 55-50, but the Lions would get no closer. Defiance converted nine-of-10 free throw in the final 1:17 of the game to claim the win, their second of the season in as many tries against the Mount.

Mark Allen (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) led four Mount players in double figures with 16 points, while Femi Thompson (Cincinnati, OH/Aiken) chipped in 12 points. David Mann (Fairfield, OH/Cincinnati Christian) and Murdock each had 11 points. Defiance held a 61 to 50 percent edge in field goal shooting, and made 11, three-pointers to the Lions' eight treys.