Yellow Jackets and Bluffton Set for HCAC Clash on Wednesday Night

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The 178th all-time meeting between old rivals Defiance and Bluffton will go a long way in shaping the top of the Heartland Conference standings as the season heads down the final stretch.

When DC hosts the Beavers on Wednesday night at 7:30 pm, the teams will take the court with one half game separating them in the conference standings. Defiance is currently in second place and one half game out of first in the HCAC, with Bluffton a full game back and in the third spot.

Defiance holds a 119-58 edge in the all-time series, but the two sides have played virtually even over the past several years with the home team controlling the action. Bluffton has won the past four decisions on its home court with Defiance winning the last three meetings in the Weaner Community Center.

The trend continued earlier this season when Bluffton scored a 103-93 overtime victory against the Jackets in Founders Hall back on Dec. 6. That game moved the Beavers into sole possession of first place in the standings at the time and marked the first HCAC loss of the year for DC.

The meeting will not only pit two of the top powers in the HCAC against each other, but will present a matchup of two of the top scoring threats in the league as Anthony Pettaway and BU’s Mike Anthony face off.

Pettaway has reached double figures in the scoring column in all but one of Defiance’s 18 games this season and has registered six double-doubles. The sophomore center has emerged as one of the league’s top big men and is currently third in scoring with 16.1 points per game and fifth in rebounds with 7.3 boards per outing.

Bluffton is led by 16.3 points a night from Anthony, who also chips in 4.9 rebounds per contest. The senior forward enters play on Wednesday second in the HCAC in scoring and has led the Beavers in scoring in 11 of their 19 games this season.

A junior varsity game between Defiance and Bluffton will start at 5:30 pm, with the main event scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 pm.

All DC students with an I.D. will be admitted for free and those wearing a SWARM shirt will also receive a free bag of popcorn from the concession stand.

The gameday promotions will also include a special round of musical chairs between Defiance and Bluffton fans at the half as well as the Scotty’s Club 111 47-foot halftime shot.