January 24, 2009 - After a five-game stretch of fingernail-biting finishes and clsoe wins and losses, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team was able to enjoy a victory on the road Saturday, playing one of its best all-around contests of the season.

Achieving season-highs for most points scored and fewest points allowed in a game, the Chargers beat Tiffin University 91-49 at the Gillmor Center. After suffering through a seven-game losing streak, the Chargers have now won three straight and are 8-8 on the season and 6-6 in the GLIAC, finishing up the first half of the conference schedule.

The first 10 minutes of the game were evenly played, with Hillsdale clinging to a 19-18 lead halfway through the first half. But the Chargers then went out on a 13-0 run, with five different players scoring points, to extend out to a 30-18 advantage with 3:36 left in the first half. The Chargers never led by less than double figures the rest of the game after that run.

Hillsdale held its biggest halftime lead of the season, 45-22, and didn't let up one inch in the second half. A little more than five minutes into the second half, the Charger lead grew to 30, and the team played with focus and intensity throughout the second half, even with the big lead.

Eleven different players scored in the game for Hillsdale, including four in double figures. Senior guard Keith MacKenzie (pictured) played in full control at both ends of the court, making five of his seven shots from the field to finish with a team-high 17 points. He also had five rebounds and four assists in the win.

Senior center Chris Skaggs was 6-for-7 from the field and scored a season-high 14 points for Hillsdale. It was the first time since the season-opener he scored at least 10 points in a game.

Senior Travis Worst scored 14 points and pulled down a team-best nine rebounds for the Chargers. Worst led the team with 29 minutes played in the game. Senior Tony Gugino added 11 points, seven rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots for the Chargers.

Hillsdale is now 6-0 vs. Tiffin since the 2000-01 season, but this marked the first-ever GLIAC game between the teams. The Dragons joined the conference across all sports this year.

The win was Hillsdale's first victory by 10 points or more since a Dec. 4 home win over GLIAC North Division leader Lake Superior State.

The Chargers will return home Thursday, hosting Saginaw Valley State University at Jesse Philips Arena starting at 8 p.m.

To view the box score from Saturday's win, click on the link below.

Box score