BLUFFTON, Ohio – Defiance College struggled in its first-ever visit to Bluffton's new Sommer Center, trailing the entire game on Wednesday and ending with a 75-55 setback to the Beavers in the 190th meeting between the two programs.
The Jackets failed to secure the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with the loss, forcing DC to win at Franklin (14-10, 9-8 HCAC) on Saturday in order to clinch a home game against the Grizzlies on Tuesday, February 19 in the HCAC Tournament Quarterfinals. A loss on Saturday would slip Defiance to the No. 5 seed and send DC to Franklin once again on the 19th for the quarterfinal clash.
Defiance never got on track on either side of the ball in Wednesday's rivalry showdown with Bluffton, shooting only 37.0 percent and allowing BU to shoot 52.0 percent and finish nine points higher than its scoring average for the season.
Logan Wolfrum went eight-for-eight from the charity stripe to end with a team-high 15 points and also led the Jackets with seven rebounds and four assists in the contest. Ryan Hicks was the only other DC player to reach double figures with 10 points, while Bernard Edwards ended with nine and Mason Roth added seven.
DC (14-10, 10-7 HCAC) will look to turn the page quickly, as it will take the next two days to prepare for Saturday's clash in Franklin. Tip is set for 4:00 pm for the regular season finale.