November 25, 2008 - A 17-point scoring disadvantage in the second half ended up sending the Hillsdale College men's basketball team to its first loss of the season.

The Chargers lost to visiting Bellarmine University, 82-60, Tuesday night at Jesse Philips Arena. Hillsdale is now 2-1 on the season and is off until it opens conference play by hosting Lake Superior State University on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m.

The Chargers kept up with the tall and athletic Knights through most of the game's first half. A 3-point field goal by freshman guard Tyler Gerber capped a 7-0 Hillsdale run that gave it a 31-28 lead with less than three minutes to play in thef irst half.

The Knights responded with a half-ending 9-1 run that turned the three-point deficit into a five-point halftime lead, 37-32. The halftime break did nothing to stop Bellarmine's momentum.

The Knights jumped out to a 15-5 run in the first six-plus minutes of the second half to blow the game wide open. Four of Bellarmine's six baskets during the run were layups, as a result of the team passing intelligently and taking advantage of size mismatches with the Chargers.

The Knights led by as many as 22 points in the second half. On defense, Bellarmine held Hillsdale to 20 percent shooting (5-for-25) from 3-point territory, and just 37 percent shooting for the game. On the other side of the ball, the Knights shot a blistering 63 percent from the field, and were 8-for-13 from behind the arc.

Senior Tony Gugino, who earlier Tuesday was named the GLIAC South Division Player of ther Week, led the Chargers with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. He was 7-for-11 from the free throw line.

Senior Travis Worst and Gerber each scored 10 points for Hillsdale. Sdnior center Chris Skaggs scored eight first-half points for Hillsdale.

Bellarmine's Chartrael Hall led all players with 22 points.

To view the game's box score, click on the link below.


Box score