The DC Yellow Jackets were unable to overcome 25 turnovers on Thursday afternoon, falling to Mt. St. Joseph 74-79 in overtime in the consolation game of the “O” Club Classic at Otterbein College.
The game was close in the early going, with the lead changing hands four times in the first three minutes before the Mount jumped out to a double-digit lead on Kevin Darthard’s triple at the six minute mark, 26-16. DC then fought back to close the gap to four when Matt Laudick converted in the paint at the end of the first half to make the score 35-39.
Matt Voland, who finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, gave Defiance the lead when the senior hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to make the score 64-62. The Lions, however, came back to tie the game, hitting two free throws with nine seconds remaining and sent the game into the extra period.
DC took the first lead in overtime when C.J. Johnson hit a lay-in 15 seconds into the third period but then gave up eight unanswered points before Curt Croy’s triple brought the Jackets to within one possession, 69-72 with a minute-and-a-half left. The Mount hit 7-of-8 free throws to close out the game and the Jacket defeat.
Brett Hammons, again, led DC with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Croy followed Hammons and Voland with 10 points of his own. Phil Blasko and Johnson added nine and eight points, respectively.
Mount St. Joseph capitalized on DC’s giveaways, scoring 26 points off turnovers and beat the Jackets in second-chance points, 10-2. The Defiance bench played well in the loss, outscoring the Lion reserves, 33-11.
Defiance, now 7-4 on the year, will open Heartland Conference play when they travel to Lexington, Kentucky to face Transylvania University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Jackets will face the Lions in HCAC play on January 15th at the Karl H. Weaner Center.
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