With four Jackets scoring in double-figures, Defiance College stole a win at Anderson University, 80-75, on Wednesday night.
Junior Matt Voland and senior Jason Smolenski led DC with 19 and 18 points respectively while Aaron Lammers and Curt Croy added 15 and 10 points respectively. The Jackets held on despite 33 points by AU’s Paul Wright, the only Raven in double-figures. DC hit 45% of their three-pointers (9-of-20), while Anderson managed only 38% shooting from the floor.
Defiance jumped out to a 17-9 lead seven minutes into the contest on a Croy three-pointer and later extended their lead to 28-17 on a Lammers long-range hit. Anderson went on a 10-5 run to close the first half on a Wright three and two jumpers, sending the teams into the locker rooms with the score 40-34 DC.
Voland and Smolenski came out firing in the second stanza. Voland, a Columbus native, hit two free throws, had a steal and hit a two lay-ups all in the first three minutes, while Smolenski, from Toledo, scored on a jumper to help push the Jacket lead to 10, 48-38 with 16 minutes remaining.
A Ryan Bruley three at the six-minute mark gave the Jackets an eight-point edge that they would preserve on free throws by Voland, Smolenski and Lammers.
DC improves to 10-11 (4-7 HCAC) with the win and will next host nationally-ranked Hanover on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the Weaner Center.