DEFIANCE, Ohio – Albion clamped its best defensive effort on Defiance Sunday night. It turns out the Britons needed just a little more scoring, however, as it came up on the short end of a 50-48 decision to the Yellow Jackets in the opening round of the Purple & Gold Financial Tournament.

Albion will square off against Marietta, a 79-74 loser to Ohio Wesleyan, in the tournament's consolation game at 5 p.m. Monday.

Defiance shot a season-worst 35 percent as it connected on 20-of-57 shots. The Yellow Jackets led most of the way, but they never led by more than six points. The score was tied seven times during the contest.

Albion trailed 23-21 at halftime, but it seized its only lead of the night when Vince Hill buried a 3-point basket on the first possession of the second half. Defiance answered with baskets in the paint by Ryan Hicks and Mason Roth on consecutive possessions to forge a lead it would never surrender.

Jordan Herron scored baskets on consecutive possessions as Albion forged a tie at 48 with a minute remaining in regulation. Herron finished the night with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.

Albion had an opportunity to seize the lead in the final minute, but the possession ended in a shot clock violation.

Roth sank a pair of free throws with one second remaining to give Defiance its winning margin.

Eric Evans was Albion's leading scorer with 14 points.

Defiance's Ryan Hicks led all players with 18 points. Wade Wooley contributed a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.