DEFIANCE, Ohio (Dec. 29) -- The Thiel College men's basketball squad dropped a 69-49 decision to host Defiance College in the opening round of the Purple and Gold Financial Tournament.

The Tomcats (5-3) jumped to an early 6-2 lead before the Yellow Jackets (7-3) used a 16-0 spurt to push in front 18-6 on a C.J. Johnson jumper with 9:40 to play in the first period. Freshman guard Devon Adams (Philadelphia, Pa./George Junior Republic)' (Philadelphia/George Junior Republic) three-point play with 6:49 remaining in the period cut the Defiance lead to 14, 25-11, but the Tomcats were held scoreless over the next 3:50 and went into the break trailing 41-13.

Thiel trailed by as many as 31 in the second half before being dealt the 20-point loss. Senior forward Joe Herrmann (Hartstown/Jamestown) (Hartstown/Jamestown) finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists while freshman forward Tommy Hall (Youngstown, Ohio/Campbell) (Campbell, Ohio/Campbell) added 12 points and six boards. Thiel shot a season-worst 34.6 percent (18-52) from the field and finished just 1-for-11 from three-point range.

Johnson led the Yellow Jackets with 18 points and five steals. Anthony Pettaway added 15 points and five rebounds.

Thiel will take on Loras College in the consolation game of the Purple and Gold Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.