Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. â€" The Earlham College men's basketball team faced one the top teams in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference on Wednesday as the Quakers fell 71-55 to Defiance College.

With the win on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center, the Yellow Jackets (12-4, 7-2) join the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Hanover College and the College of Mount St. Joseph in a tie for the top spot in the conference.

Michael Parker led the Quakers with 16 points and four assists. Kyle Smith came of the bench to score a career-high 10 points.

Jack O'Flaherty finished with eight points, while Lajay Kelly grabed a team-high six rebounds.

After Kelly hit the first basket of the game for the Quakers, the Yellow Jackets scored the next eight points to lead 8-2 at the 15:37 mark of the opening period.

Defiance widened the gap to double digits, but by halftime the Quakers rallied to trail 35-30.

In the second half, the Quakers cut the deficit to 41-37 after Smith hit a 3-pointer at 14:52. Shortly after that point, Defiance was able to go back on top by double figures to hold off the Quakers.

The Quakers (3-12, 2-7) visit Manchester University on Saturday. The HCAC affair begins at 3 p.m.

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