The Jackets shot extremely well from the field in the first half, hitting 17-of-28 shots for a .607 field goal percentage. Hanover also shot well, going 20-of-35. However, 11 of those shots came from beyond the arc, en route to a 51-38 halftime lead for the Panthers.
In the second half, DC contained the outside shooting much better than they did in the first half, as they held Hanover to only four three-points. They also kept the Panthers under 40% shooting from the field, as Hanover went 15-for-39. DC’s shooting dipped under the 50% mark in the half, but still managed to hit 11-of-27 shots. Yet Hanover’s crashing of the boards ultimately hurt DC, as the Jackets were outrebounded 29-16 in the second half, with Hanover grabbing 14 offensive rebounds to Defiance’s three. DC was unable to bring the score closer than eight, when a Curt Croy free throw made it 58-50 with 15:29 to play.
Matt Laudick led the Jackets with 18 points and nine rebounds. Anthony Pettaway and Curt Croy each scored 13 apiece, while C.J. Johnson added 12 points and five assists. Hanover’s Marc O’Leary and Blake Preusz had career highs in scoring with 18 and 10, respectively
DC (8-14, 1-11 HCAC) hosts rival Bluffton University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Hanover (15-8 (8-4 HCAC) takes on Mount St. Joseph Wednesday as well.