DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College never trailed on Wednesday night on its way to a crucial, 78-68, victory against Transylvania. The win moved the Jackets to 6-1 inside the Karl H. Weaner Community Center and improved the team to 24-3 in its last 27 home contests.
Defiance knocked down 11 of its first 14 field goal attempts, including all three tries from long distance to race to the 28-16 lead and eventually pushed the cushion to 32-18. Kevin Tietje fueled the quick start with eight points and eight rebounds, while Logan Wolfrum chipped in nine points and four assists on four-of-four shooting to open the game.
The tide would turn however, after Wolfrum headed to the bench with his second foul at the 6:08 mark. The Jackets responded by turning the ball over five times during that span, as TU roared back on a 16-4 rally to draw to within two points. Leroy Lewis stopped the spurt and ended the opening period with a runner at the horn to send DC to the break with a 38-34 lead.
The Defiance lead would hover between three and seven points throughout the opening minutes of the second half, until a three-point play from Wolfrum and stick back from Brandon Campbell opened up a 52-43 gap with 12:05 to play. Another hoop from Wolfrum pushed the lead into double figures at 11 one minute later.
The Pioneers gradually battled back and clawed to within four points twice in the final minute, only to have Wolfrum extend the lead back to six on both occasions. Wolfrum then iced the game by pulling in a defensive rebound and hitting a streaking Tietje in stride for the 76-68 lead with 29 ticks left on the clock. A pair of Ryan Hicks free throws capped the scoring in the 78-68 Yellow Jacket victory.
Defiance controlled nearly every aspect of the game, owning a 45-29 edge on the glass, a 40-28 advantage in points in the paint and an 18-8 spread in fast-break points. The Jackets also held the Pioneers to 36.5 percent shooting from the field to improve to 22-1 under Kyle Brumett when holding an opponent below 40-percent shooting from the floor.
The offense was also up to the task against the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference's top-rated defense, as DC's 78 points was the highest output allowed by Transylvania (9-3, 3-2 HCAC) this season. The Pioneers were holding foes to 59.7 points per night and had only allowed one other team to reach the 70-point barrier in 12 games.
Tietje set the tone with a career-high 17 rebounds and 15 points for his second double-double of the season. The junior has now averaged 12.5 rebounds per game over his last four outings. Wolfrum also continued his strong play with a game-high 28 points and five assists, as the point guard has netted 25.5 points per game over his last seven.
That duo had plenty of help however, as Hicks ended with seven points and nine boards, Anthony Brown tacked on 10 points and Lewis ended with nine points and a pair of assists.
Defiance (7-5, 2-3 HCAC) will try for its fifth win in six games when it hosts Mount St. Joseph (3-9, 1-4 HCAC) on Saturday at 3:00 pm. DC has won its last four meetings on the hardwood with MSJ.