PHOTOS

RICHMOND, Ind. – Defiance College shot 56.8 percent from the field in a 78-64 victory over the Earlham College men's basketball team in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action on Wednesday evening.

The Quakers began the game hot from beyond the three-point arc as Earlham poured in three straight triples to take a 19-12 lead with 11:35 to play in the first half. The Yellow Jackets had the answer, however, in the form of a 20-2 over the next eight minutes.

Trailing by 11, Earlham hit five free throw in the final two minutes to cut the deficit to nine points, 35-26, at halftime.

Similar to the first half, Earlham opened the second 20 minutes on a 17-8 run capped by a layup from freshman Blake Bonin to tie the game 43-43 with 13:07 to play. Two minutes later, the Quakers took a one-point advantage on a layup from sophomore Darrell Hutchison, but Defiance countered with a 10-2 run to lead 55-48 at the 6:05 mark.

A Bonin triple on the next possession got the Quakers back within four points, but Earlham went cold from the field. The Quakers' next basket, another triple from Bonin, came with just under four minutes to play and Defiance leading by 11, a deficit too steep to overcome.

Senior Kamari Hunter led Earlham in scoring with a season-high 15 points while also dishing out four assists. Hutchison and Bonin also finished in double figures in scoring.

Devin Magas and Jonathan Ragland both tallied 14 points to lead Defiance to a road win. Randall Akins had 11 points and dished out five assists.

Earlham forced Defiance into 14 turnovers, but the Yellow Jackets held a 35-17 rebounding edge. Defiance, who came into the contest ranked last in the HCAC in three-point percentage at 32.8 percent, converted 10-22 triples for 45.5 percent.

The Quakers return to action on Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at Mount St. Joseph University.