Jackets Lose at the Buzzer to Rose-Hulman

Rose-Hulman at Defiance Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance closed out its regular season on Saturday with a 43-42 loss to Rose-Hulman inside the Karl H. Weaner Community Center. Five-straight points from Anthony Jackson gave DC a one-point lead with 11 seconds remaining, but the Engineers hit a layup with three seconds on the clock to pull out the upset win.

The last second action was set up by a rally from Defiance, which erased a six-point lead for Rose-Hulman with just over two minutes left to play. Nick Sales hauled in an offensive rebound and his stick back drew DC within 41-37.

The Jackets then got a key stop on the Engineer’s ensuing possession, as Bryan Post chased down the defensive board and assisted a trey from Jackson on the other end to bring Defiance within a point with 1:08 to play.

Another errant shot from Rose-Hulman gave DC the ball with 35 seconds left in the game with the chance to take its first lead since holding the 27-26 advantage early in the second half. Jackson took the ball at the top of the arc and drove the lane for the contested layup and the 42-41 lead with 11 ticks left. Rose-Hulman would have one final chance and Phil Sundling capitalized with a bucket in the paint with three seconds to play.

The Jackets had one final chance, but Jackson’s half-court heave went off iron and Rose-Hulman escaped with the 43-42 victory to spoil Defiance’s Senior Day festivities.

Defiance was led once again by Anthony Pettaway, as the junior chipped in 15 points, six boards and a pair of blocks. Pettaway is now well within striking distance of joining DC’s 1,000-point club and will need only 13 points to reach that mark.

Jackson was the only other DC starter to score more than two points, as he went for eight points, four rebounds and three steals. Heath Armstrong and Nick Sales came off the bench to provide 13 points and six rebounds.

Defiance (18-7, 13-3 HCAC) will now wait until Tuesday night to find out who it will be playing in the HCAC Semifinals on Friday at 8:00 pm. The Jackets will take on the winner of fourth-seeded Anderson and fifth-seeded Hanover. That game will be hosted by Anderson on Tuesday at 7:30 pm.