Anthony Pettaway hit a lay up with 57 seconds remaining to bring the Jackets to within one. After a Spartan miss and Pettaway board, the Jackets had the ball with a chance to take the lead. A Jacket turnover, however, gave the ball back to Manchester and placed them on the line with six seconds left. After two misses, Defiance was unable to secure a defensive rebound and the Spartans (6-14, 3-6 HCAC) ran out the clock and dropped the Jackets to 8-11 on the season and 1-8 in the Heartland Conference.
Pettaway was among four Jackets in double-figures with 10. C.J. Johnson led the way with 13 points, while Curt Croy and Frank Washington chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. Washington came off the bench to also grabbed five rebounds. The Spartans were led by David Mattingly with 15 points and eight rebounds.
The score was knotted at the break, 30-30, after a 26-7 run by the Jackets overcame an initial Spartans lead. The run was sparked by a Croy three at the 12:50 mark and included eight of Washington’s points.
DC earned a 50-45 lead with 9:28 left when Pettaway hit a jumper. Manchester answered with a crucial 10-0 run over the next three minutes but threes by Bryan Post and Croy brought Defiance back to within a point going into the final minutes.
The Jackets will return home on Saturday to face the Mount St. Joseph Lions at 3:00 p.m. The Lions are 12-8 on the year, and 5-4 in the league after falling 59-73 at Transylvania on Wednesday.
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