An improbable buzzer-beating 30-footer by Manchester’s Kevin Kuhn sent the DC Yellow Jackets into and eventually to a 71-78 loss at the Weaner Center on Wednesday evening.
After two free-throws by Curt Croy, who hit eight three-pointers in the game, the Jackets were up three with four seconds left. Just moments prior, freshman C.J. Johnson intercepted Kuhn’s in-bounds pass to give the Jackets the lead and seemingly, the win. After a Spartan time-out, Jon Cain’s in-bounds pass was deflected by DC, right into the hands of Kuhn who hit the tying shot.
In overtime, the Spartans continued rode their momentum to a 16-9 advantage in the extra period. The game was as even on paper as it was on the floor with both squads hitting roughly 37% of their shots from the floor and committing nine turnovers.
Croy’s eight triples fell just one short of an HCAC game record as the junior ended with a game-high 31 points on 9-of-22 shooting and six rebounds. Johnson ended with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshmen Trent Meyer and Matt Muratori each scored eight, while junior Matt Laudick grabbed 10 rebounds and scored four points.
Jamaal Wade led the Spartans 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Cain also had a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 12 boards. Kuhn ended with eight points.
Defiance had the lead 33-32 at the half after 16 first-half points and five triples from Croy. Manchester eventually won the battle of the boards, 46-40, and came away with important offensive rebounds near the end of the contest to turn the tide of the game.
The Jackets swatted a season-high nine blocks in the game with Laudick blocking four shots and freshmen Joel Ruffer stuffing three.
Defiance is now 8-12 on the year and 1-8 in the HCAC. The Yellow Jackets hit the road on Saturday to take on the Mount St. Joseph Lions at 3:00 p.m.
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