Stone leads resilient second half for DC but Saints silent Jackets in closing minutes

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance Yellow Jackets trimmed a double-digit halftime deficit down to two, but the Aquinas Saints clamped down and hit their marks down the stretch for a 74-53 conference victory at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Saturday.

In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, each side also entered riding a three-game losing streak. The Yellow Jackets (3-8, 1-5 WHAC) responded to the first bucket of the game with a Jalen Brown 3-pointer for a brief lead, but that stood as DC's lone field goal over the first 11 minutes of the game. The Saints (5-5, 3-3 WHAC), on the other hand, started red-hot from the floor and shot 8-for-15 with a trio of 3-pointers. While the Jackets started 1-for-13 from the field, Aquinas built a 22-5 lead.

Defiance's offense kicked into gear over the last seven minutes of the half following back-to-back triples by Connor Bush. The Yellow Jackets mounted a 15-5 run to close the gap to 27-20 with 3:09 left in the first and ended the half 6-for-10. The Saints boosted their lead back to double figures with a minute left after a foul plus a technical against Defiance gave Aquinas four free throws, all of which were made.

Aquinas began the second half with a 3-pointer and a layup to push ahead by 15 before the Yellow Jackets found their stride. DC worked open 3s for Evan Angstmann and Donovan Stone to cut it back to single digits quickly. Stone went on to lead the charge with four 3-pointers that brought the Jackets within four. Zahyem Bradwell added a layup to bring Defiance within two at 44-42 but Aquinas responded with a 6-0 run. The Yellow Jackets kept Aquinas in their sights with a 56-48 ballgame favoring the visitors entering the final media timeout.

THE TURNING POINT
With 4:27 left in the game, Aquinas split a pair of free throws, secured the offensive rebound after missing the second attempt, and sank a 3-pointer to lead by 12. Defiance went one-and-done on the other end that led to a fastbreak layup for the Saints. Those quick baskets sparked a 16-0 run for Aquinas that put the game away while the Saints clamped down defensively and held Defiance to no points for nearly five minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Donovan Stone logged a season-high 19 points with a five 3-pointers, all in the second half. Stone also nabbed six rebounds.
• Zahyem Bradwell gave the Jackets their only six points off the bench and secured a team-high nine boards. With foul trouble for Carter Sudhoff, Bradwell gave the Jackets solid minutes highlighted by a slam dunk on a strong take from the left corner with four minutes left in the first half.
• Defiance struggled at the free throw line early in the game, starting 3-for-7 through the first 10 minutes of the game. Defiance's 9-for-19 afternoon at the line proved costly in a close game coming down the stretch and was their worst performance at the charity stripe this season.
• The Yellow Jackets made up some ground with their best 3-point shooting game of the season, making a season-best 10 treys on a season-best 38.5 percent.
• Aquinas proved to be strong on the boards, winning 16 offense rebounds that aided 20 second-chance points. 
• The Saints' Jadakiss Lewis stepped up in the absence of their top scorer, Devon Boyd. Lewis led all scorers with 22 points while the WHAC's leading rebounder, Caden Pokorzynski, recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets suit up against Michigan-Dearborn on Wednesday as part of a men's and women's WHAC doubleheader. Tipoff against the Wolverines is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the completion of the women's contest starting at 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-