Jackets fall to Transy in HCAC opener

DEFIANCE, Ohio—The Defiance College men’s basketball squad fell to conference-favorite Transylvania University on Wednesday evening, 47-54, to open Heartland Conference play.

Matt Laudick was the only Yellow Jacket with more than seven points as the senior worked inside for 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting and five rebounds. He helped Defiance to a 28-26 lead at intermission with 11 first-half points and two blocked shots. DC was forced into 18 turnovers, while the Jacket defense held the Pioneers to 21 points below their season average.

The Pioneers were led by Bryan Howard’s 18 points and improved to 10-2 on the season with the win.

A Laudick jumper at the three-minute mark of the first half gave DC their largest lead of the game at 26-19. Transy closed the gap to two on two Howard free-throws just before the half and opened the second stanza with a 9-4 run to take a five-point lead on two Matt Finke charity shots.

The Jacket defense remained tenacious, holding Transylvania to one field goal between the 17 and five minute mark of the final period. DC had two turnovers in the final four minutes to quiet any comeback attempts after a triple by Robert Pendleton gave TU the final lead of the game at the five minute mark.

Defiance is now 7-4 on the season and are 0-1 in the HCAC heading into Saturday’s 3:00 p.m. match-up at Franklin College. The Grizzlies fell at Hanover College on Wednesday night, 64-70.