Shooting 62% from the floor, the Franklin College Grizzlies (9-4, 1-1 HCAC) outplayed the DC Yellow Jackets (7-6, 0-2 HCAC) 93-79 on Saturday afternoon at the Weaner Center.
Freshman C.J. Johnson, a Toledo product, led the Jackets with a game-high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Fellow Freshman Matt Muratori and junior Curt Croy followed with 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Grizzlies had four players in double figures, including 19 points from Nick Kane.
The Jackets were outrebounded 29-40 for the game and were held to 17% shooting from behind the arc (4-23). Franklin never relinquished the lead despite giving up 22 points of 18 turnovers.
Defiance shot just 27% from the floor in the first half and found themselves down 42-28 at the break. Beginning the second half, DC went on a 10-4 run, spurred by two straight lay-ins with fouls by Croy. After cutting the gap to five on a Matt Voland lay-up, the Grizzlies went on a 17-2 run over the next three-and-a-half minutes to put the game out-of-reach.
The Jackets did convert 81% of their free-throws (21-26) and committed only 10 turnovers on the game.
Senior Matt Voland added nine points and tied Muratori for the team-high in rebounds with four. Freshman Bryan Post saw his first action of the year, scoring five points, dishing two assists, and blocking one shot.
DC will return to play on Wednesday when they travel to Manchester College for a 7:30 p.m. match-up with the Spartans.