Before a near-capacity crowd at the Karl H. Weaner Center, the DC Yellow Jackets moved one step closer to hosting a first-round HCAC Tournament game by defeating Bluffton 66-60.
Matt Voland led the Jackets with 19 points and eight rebounds, while also blocking two shots. Curt Croy and Jason Smolenski also scored in double-figures with 10 points apiece. Freshman Ryan Bruley, while not scoring, distributed four assists and committed only one turnover while playing point for 37 minutes.
Brad Boyles, Bluffton’s senior guard who averages nearly 16 points-per-game, was held to only six points by Smolenski and others, fouling out late in the contest. Scott Bergman paced the Beavers, who fell to 10-14 (4-9 HCAC) on the year, with 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while Michael Anthony chipped in 15.
The lead changed hands 13 times throughout the game with the Beavers actually jumping out to a 13-7 lead six minutes in. The Jackets battled back with buckets by Voland, Aaron Lammers and Bruley to take a 18-15 lead at the six-minute mark. After trading baskets, DC took a 27-26 on a Voland jumper with 20 seconds left and went into the half up by one.
Bluffton again came out with more fire to begin the second period, streaking to a 33-30 lead after four minutes. The game was tied for the eighth time with nine minutes left after a Phil Blasko jumper and again later when Voland knotted the score at 50 at the 8:15 mark.
Croy broke the game’s 11th tie when he delivered on a circus left-handed runner and was fouled with 90 seconds to play. After converting the free throw, the Jackets pressed their lead to 59-54 on two Smolenski free throws and held on for the 66-60 win.
Fourth-place DC now can entertain hopes of hosting fifth-place Bluffton again on Tuesday when they open conference tournament play. The Jackets would seal the first-round home-floor advantage with a win at third-place Transylvania (14-8, 8-5 HCAC) on Saturday.
Bluffton plays at second-place Manchester on Saturday.
###