Behind a conference-record-tying 14 assists by freshman C.J. Johnson, the Defiance College Yellow Jackets earned an 81-72 win over Anderson University at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday night.
Matt Laudick and Curt Croy benefited from Johnson’s passing, scoring 20 and 16 points, respectively, while Matt Voland scored 14 points and pulled in a game-high nine rebounds. Vyncynt Vann’s 16 point, seven assist performance kept the game close for AU, but 56% shooting by the Jackets overcame the Ravens’ attack.
Johnson’s assist total matches the record of Matt Grieser of Anderson, which was set in 1996.
The Jackets went to the half up 42-38 after seven first-half dishes from Johnson. DC hit six-of-12 first-half triple attempts and 7-of-15 for the game. Voland hit a lay-up at the 6:28 mark of the first, off a Johnson assist, to build the initial DC lead to eight, 33-25. Cody Lyons helped the Ravens back into the game, hitting a jumper with a minute and a half left to close the gap to four going into the break.
Defiance sprang out to a 12-point lead (57-45) when Voland scored off another Johnson assist at the 14:38 mark. Anderson then went on a 16-6 run over the next seven minutes and tied the score on Chris Hanson’s lay-up with 7:30 remaining.
With the lead still sitting at two with three minutes remaining, Brett Hammons found Trent Meyer for a crucial three-pointer as the shot clock expired to give DC a 73-68 lead that they would not relinquish. Two lay-ups by Laudick closed out the DC field goals, making the final score 81-72.
Both teams sit with an identical 9-13 record overall and 2-9 mark in the HCAC.
Defiance will next host Hanover College as part of a double-header with the Lady Jackets. The women’s game will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. and the men’s game commencing at 3:00 p.m.