BLUFFTON, Ohio – Defiance scored a thrilling, 66-62, overtime victory at Bluffton on Wednesday night to keep its postseason hopes alive and Logan Wolfrum became the first player in DC's NCAA Division III era to collect 500 points, 100 assists and 100 rebounds in a single season.
Wolfrum poured in 22 points along with six rebounds and four assists on Wednesday to push his season totals to 509 points, 125 helpers and 118 boards through the season's first 24 contests. In doing so, the sophomore point guard became the first Yellow Jacket to accomplish the feat since Sean Patterson did so in 1986-1987 and the only to reach those numbers since Defiance became a NCAA Division III member prior to the 1991-1992 campaign.
Wolfrum's milestone was nearly spoiled however, as Defiance saw a 54-44 lead slip away over the final seven minutes of regulation. A jumper from Wolfrum opened up the 10-point cushion for DC with 7:10 left in the game, but the Jackets hit just one of their final 11 attempts from the floor.
Bluffton took advantage by scoring the game's next six points and eventually closed the half on a 12-2 rally to draw even at 56-56 and force the extra session.
The cold spell continued into the early moments of overtime for Defiance, as the Jackets missed their first four shots, before an offensive rebound and layup from Brandon Campbell gave DC the 58-56 lead.
A Kevin Tietje free throw would push the lead to 61-58 with 2:10 remaining, before Bluffton used a 4-0 spurt to take its first lead since midway through the opening half. Another Kevin Tietje score, this time in the form of a put-back, flipped the one-point margin back in favor of Defiance with under one minute to play.
The Beavers missed a layup with 27 seconds showing on the clock, but hauled in the offensive rebound to earn a second chance. This time, Wolfrum stole the ball away with 14 seconds left and knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game.
Neither side could find the touch from three-point range throughout the night and Bluffton's final attempt did little to change that, as Kevin Tietje pulled down the carom with two ticks left and hit one free throw to seal the 66-62 victory.
Poor shooting from downtown led to both teams combining for just two makes in 24 tries, with each side hitting one trifecta, but DC shot 49.0 percent from inside the arc to overcome a glaring, 23-7, edge for Bluffton at the free throw line.
Wolfrum's 22 points and four dimes led all players, while Campbell added 12 points, three rebounds a five steals. Ryan Hicks joined the duo in double figures with 11 points, nine boards and two blocks, while Kevin Tietje added eight points, five rebounds and a pair of swats.
Defiance (12-12, 7-10 HCAC) moved to 124-62 in the all-time series against Bluffton (14-10, 7-10 HCAC), while also climbing into a tie for sixth place with the Beavers in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with one game remaining in the regular season and the final spot in the upcoming HCAC Tournament still up for grabs.
DC will need a win over Franklin (8-16, 6-11 HCAC) on Saturday at 4:00 pm inside the Karl H. Weaner Community Center and an upset victory by Earlham (2-22, 0-17 HCAC) on its home court over Bluffton to secure the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament.