RICHMOND – The Earlham College men's basketball team kept its postseason hopes alive with a 67-60 win over Defiance College on Tuesday in Druley Performance Gym. 

Prior to tip-off the EC athletic department honored Avis Stewart for black history month. Stewart was a four-year member of the Earlham basketball team and a three-year member of the track and field program. He was a key component of the 1970-71 team that won the NAIA District 21 Championship. On the track, Stewart competed in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. After graduating, he served as men's basketball coach, where he guided the team to its first winning season in 25 years. 

Also honored before tip-off was senior Anthony Phillips who played his final game in Druley Performance Gym this evening. Phillips is a four-year member of the program, and is  in the midst of his best season wearing an Earlham uniform. 

The Quakers improved to 10-11 (6-8 HCAC) while the Yellow Jackets fell to 10-11 (8-6 HCAC).

Jaden Terry recorded another top performance for the Quakers with 18 points and seven rebounds. Phillips and Tommy Makabu followed with 16 and 17 points respectively. 

Freshman Kolden Vanlandingham topped the team in rebounds with eight. He also led in steals with four. 

Defiance jumped out to an early lead after a 10-point run gave the visitors a 14-4 lead. Earlham responded with a 10-point run of its own to equal the score with 7:27 remaining in the half. 

Trailing 19-16 with 5:34 left in the half, Earlham scored a 13-4 run through the remainder of the half. The run was highlighted by 3-pointers from Terry and Vanlandingham. 

After coming out of the locker rooms with a 29-23 lead, Earlham fought to extend its lead to 38-29 in the opening five minutes. 

EC enjoyed a double-digit lead in the middle minutes of the half, as the home squad shot at a 52% clip in the frame. 

Defiance fouled in an attempt to stop the clock as time wound down, but accurate shooting from Phillips, Makabu and Terry sealed the win in the final minute. 

Earlham travels to Transylvania on Friday to conclude the regular season. The Quakers currently sit in eighth place in the HCAC standings and will be looking for a win to secure a spot in the conference tournament.