December 13, 2008 – Senior guard Keith MacKenzie is known for his passing, playmaking and 3-point shooting. But he played the part of the hero Saturday thanks to a rebound.

MacKenzie rolled in an offensive rebound for a layup with a half-second left in the game to help give the Chargers a dramatic 79-77 win over Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Hillsdale is now 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC, tied with Findlay for first place in the GLIAC South Division.

Senior guard Evan Steward drove along the right baseline for a layup on the game’s final possession. The ball bounced softly off the rim, allowing MacKenzie to jump up to rim level, placing the ball back in the basket just before the buzzer sounded.

The win was Hillsdale’s third of the season by three points or less. Back on Dec. 7, Hillsdale edged Saginaw Valley State 68-66 on a game that ended with a miss from halfcourt by the Cardinals as time expired.

Ferris State falls to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC with the loss. Two of Hillsdale’s three conference wins have come on the road.

MacKenzie’s game-winning shot capped a frenzied final minute of the game that saw the Chargers go from comfortably ahead to nearly losing the game.

Ferris State went on an 8-1 run in a 45-second span in the game’s last minute and a half that included made jump shots, and offensive rebound putbacks off missed free throws.

The bulk of the game was highlighted by sizzling 3-point shooting by both teams. Hillsdale made a season-high 10 3-point shots, made by seven different players.

Both teams were sizzling from beyond the arc to start the second half. They each made four 3-point buckets in the first 10 minutes of the second half, a stretch that saw the Bulldogs briefly take a one-point lead.

But Hillsdale’s offensive balance and ability to keep the tall and athletic Bulldogs off the glass, were keys in the team’s ability to hold on for the victory.

A 3-point bomb by junior Luke Laser sprung Hillsdale on a 25-12 run in a nine-minute span covering the late part of the second half

Four players scored in double figures for the Chargers, led by 17 each from Tony Gugino and MacKenzie. Senior Travis Worst played a strong game, making his usual subtle plays on offense and defense, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and three assists. Freshman Brad Guinane and Steward each had 10 points for Hillsdale.

The Chargers will host undefeated and No. 1-ranked University of Findlay Thursday night starting at 8 p.m. To view the box score from Saturday’s game, click on the link below.

Box score