Big Second Half Powers Come-From-Behind Win for Men's Basketball

LIMA, OH - UNOH men's basketball picked up a win the hard way Saturday afternoon digging out of a double-digit deficit with a 51-point second half to earn the program's first ever win over Defiance, 78-71.

It was a tale of two halves as the Yellow Jackets controlled the first 20 minutes and the Racers controlled the second. Defiance held their largest lead of the game, 19-6, at the 9:39 mark and held that cushion until just before halftime. In the final minute, UNOH scored a layup, forced a turnover and hit a big three-point shot that shaved the lead back to just five at the break.

The Jackets pushed their lead back up to nine to start the second half, but the following ten minutes were dominated by the Racers. From 17:35 to the 6:38 mark, UNOH outscored Defiance 34-13 flipping the script and giving the Racers their largest lead of the night, 66-54, a lead they would never surrender. The fight was far from over, though, as the Jackets pulled within a possession three times, including just two points with 1:58 to play, but UNOH answered each time to hold their advantage and finish off the win.

Antonio King led the team with 14 points while grabbing six rebounds. Kahlil Davis came off the bench to chip in eleven with Malachi Black adding ten. Jyheim Spencer was two points away from a double-double scoring eight with a game high ten boards while blocking three shots. 

The UNOH defense forced 16 turnovers and converted them into a season high 30 points while giving up just seven and four on the other end, both season lows. The Racers shot 49% from the field and 42% from three to overcome a woeful night at the charity stripe where they hit just 48% as a team.

UNOH will take the court one more time before a break in conference play with a trip to Aquinas on Wednesday, December 17.