The Defiance College Yellow Jackets, going the final five minute of the game with just one field goal, fell at Bluffton University on Wednesday night, 60-68.
The Jackets held a 28-25 halftime lead after seven first-half points by Matt Laudick, who ended with 13. Anthony Pettaway led the way for DC with 14 points and six rebounds, while C.J. Johnson added 13. Defiance committed just eight turnovers, but were out-rebounded 24-44 by the Beavers.
Following the halftime break, DC jumped to a 40-32 lead when Laudick sank a jumper at the 13:41 mark. The score was knotted at 52 after a Pettaway lay-in with five minutes remaining. The Jackets cold streak was countered by a 17-point run by the Beavers to seal the game.
Bryan Post added seven points and three boards for the Jackets, while Matt Muratori and Curt Croy chipped in eight and five points, respectively.
Defiance slips below the .500 mark at 8-9 on the year and falls to 1-6 in the Heartland Conference. BU is now 15-3 overall and 5-2 in the league.
The Jackets will host Franklin on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. as part of the DC Basketball Alumni Day which begins at 11:00.