Defiance Rides Pettaway's Fifth-Straight Double-Double to Victory

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Yellow Jackets unleashed a three-point barrage on Olivet in the opening half, draining six treys in the opening 20 minutes and Anthony Pettaway did the work in the paint with 20 points and 10 rebounds as DC earned a 61-55 victory over the Comets.

Olivet played well at the start, building a 22-16 lead but the Jackets got on track and controlled the game throughout from that point on. Defiance closed the half on a 20-2 rally to claim the 12-point, 36-24, lead at the break.

The Yellow Jackets carried the momentum into the second half and managed to push the spread out to as many as 18 points on two different occasions with the last one coming at 51-33 with 11:04 to play in the half.

The margin remained in double figures until the 2:29 mark when Olivet’s Andy Sierminski followed a Brandon Way three with a jumper to cut the DC lead to eight points. Way then capped the 7-0 Comet spurt with a layup to draw Olivet to within 57-51 with 2:01 to play.

Mike Floyd stemmed the tide with a pair of free throws and Defiance went on to finish off the 61-55 win.

Pettaway earned his fifth double-double in as many games and added two blocks. Floyd also cracked double figures with 13 points and dished out five helpers while Anthony Jackson netted 10 points.

Matt Muratori and Nick Sales combined for 19 rebounds and C.J. Johnson racked up five assists.

Olivet was led by 12 points from Way and 10 from Jeff Cooper.

Defiance (6-2) will be back in action on Monday night at 7:00 pm when it hosts Washington & Jefferson.