January 10, 2009 – In one of the most agonizing ways possible, the Hillsdale College men’s basketball team lost a second consecutive overtime game Saturday afternoon in Detroit.

Wayne State edged the Chargers 65-64 in Detroit’s Matthaei Center. Hillsdale is now 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the GLIAC. Thursday night, the Chargers lost by two points in overtime at Northwood.

Senior Keith MacKenzie’s jump shot from the corner with less than five seconds left bounced off the rim. Several players had their hands on the ball as time expired, and the officials called a jump ball. But the officials then ruled that the clock ran out before the jump ball was established, thus ending the game.

Hillsdale went more than 11 minutes of the second half and overtime without a field goal, but gritty defense kept the team in the ballgame throughout crunch time. Freshman guard Tyler Gerber, who was in the middle of a lot of big plays throughout the game, hit two free throws after a steal to put the Chargers up 60-58 with 55.9 seconds left in regulation.

Wayne State’s Bryan Smothers then hit an off-balance jump shot with 37.8 seconds left to tie the game. Neither team scored in those remaining seconds, starting Hillsdale’s second straight overtime period.

Wayne State’s Reggie Stallings hit two free throws on the first possession of overtime to give the Warriors a 62-60 lead. Neither team scored until MacKenzie converted a layup off a steal by Tony Gugino to tie the game with 1:57 left.

The Charger defense held firm on each possession, and it took a shot-clock beating 3-pointer by Smothers to give the Warriors a stunning 3-point lead. MacKenzie sprinted down the court for a swift layup to make it a 65-64 game.

Gerber got underneath the Wayne State guards to steal the ensuing inbounds pass, setting the Chargers up with possession of the ball with five seconds left. But lady luck did not smile on Hillsdale again.

Hillsdale shot 8-for-26 from the field in the second half, and had a .375 shooting percentage for the game. The Chargers did hold the Warriors to 40 percent shooting in the contest, and Hillsdale committed just 11 turnovers in the contest.

Gugino led Hillsdale with 21 points and nine rebounds to go along with four steals. MacKenzie had 13 points and nine rebounds, and nailed three 3-point baskets. Senior Travis Worst added nine points for the Chargers.

The Chargers ended the first half on an 18-5 run to turn a three-point deficit into a 37-28 edge at halftime. Gugino was on-target offensively in that first half, compiling 15 points and five rebounds, including a stretch of scoring seven in a row that pushed Hillsdale into the lead.

To view the stats from Saturday’s game, click on the link below.

Box score