Jackets Fall in Season-Opener

--Wilmington, Ohio-- It was the tail of two halves as the DC men’s basketball team fell to Wilmington College, 78-79, in the season opener on Friday night in Wilmington, Ohio.

The Yellow Jackets took a 46-34 lead into the half, but were outscored 32-45 in the final 20 minutes of play. Curt Croy led DC with 17 points and four assists, and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Matt Voland and Ryan Farmer had 13 and 11 points respectively, while Voland pulled down six boards. Freshman Mike Lentz and senior Brett Hammons each scored 10 points in the loss with Hammons grabbing four rebounds, and Lentz dishing out three assists.

Cold second half shooting did the Jackets in as DC shot 63% from the floor in the first half and just 35% in the second stanza. Defiance did win the battle of the boards, 29-26. David Guy led WC with 19 points.

With the Jackets holding a 15 point lead at the break, the Quakers instantly eliminated that lead at the sound of the second half gun. Wilmington went on a 16-2 run in the first five minutes of half #2, but did not hold the lead until Guy hit a jumper to give them 67-66 lead with six minutes remaining. The Quakers built a five point lead, but a lay-up and three-pointer by Hammons and another three by Croy cut the lead to one with 2:38 remaining. Neither team scored again until Deon Short hit a free throw to give WC a two point lead.

Croy was on the free throw line following a Eric Stirling foul, with a chance to tie the game with one second remaining. The junior nailed the first try but missed the second following a Quaker icing timeout.

DC is 0-1 on the year and can get in the win column when they face Thomas More today (Saturday) at 2:00 p.m. in the final round of the Wilmington Fred Razik Classic. Thomas More defeated Anderson University 86-74 in the first round.