Overtime redux: Chargers go extra session to top Wayne State
Team is 5-4 in overtime since Tharp took over
February 12, 2009 - After so many of these overtime games, one starts to wonder if Chargers coach John Tharp gets overtime pay every time his team is tied at the end of regulation.
But Tharp couldn't care less about overtime pay, as long as his team wins, and his team won in overtime for the second game in a row Thursday night. The Chargers rallied to defeat Wayne
State Unviersity 60-58 at the Jesse Philips Arena.
The Chargers have now won seven of their past eight games, and are 12-9 overall and 10-7 in the GLIAC. The win opens up some breathing room for the team in the GLIAC standings, and improves its chances of possibly hosting a first-round tournament game on Tuesday, March 3.
But before discussion of the postseason tournament can begin, the Chargers have improved and evolved into a team that can execute in clutch situations, as evidenced by their last two overtime wins. Wayne State took an early lead in the extra session, but the Chargers came back thanks to hard work on the boards and tough defense down the stretch.
Senior Tony Gugino nailed a 3-point basket to take Hillsdale from a two-point deficit to a one-point lead at the 3:48 mark of overtime. The Chargers then forced three straight misses by the Warriors, and didn't allow WSU to get an offensive rebound on any of those possessions.
Senior Evan Steward made two free throws, and Luke Laser made a free throw with two seconds left to help the Chargers wrap up the victory.
Laser played one of his best all-around games in a Charger uniform, and has played with improved confidence throughout the past month. He led the team with 17 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals.
Senior guard Keith MacKenzie came back from a leg injury to make big plays for the Chargers. On the first possession after he re-entered the game, he drained a 16-foot jump shot that seemed to energize the Chargers. MacKenzie finished the game with 17 points and three assists.
All of Gugino's field goals came from behind the 3-point arc, and he had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Steward added 10 points and three steals to Hillsdale's effort.
The Chargers will host another team they played to overtime earlier this season, Northwood University, starting at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Click on the link below for the box score from Thursday's game.
Box score
But Tharp couldn't care less about overtime pay, as long as his team wins, and his team won in overtime for the second game in a row Thursday night. The Chargers rallied to defeat Wayne
State Unviersity 60-58 at the Jesse Philips Arena.The Chargers have now won seven of their past eight games, and are 12-9 overall and 10-7 in the GLIAC. The win opens up some breathing room for the team in the GLIAC standings, and improves its chances of possibly hosting a first-round tournament game on Tuesday, March 3.
But before discussion of the postseason tournament can begin, the Chargers have improved and evolved into a team that can execute in clutch situations, as evidenced by their last two overtime wins. Wayne State took an early lead in the extra session, but the Chargers came back thanks to hard work on the boards and tough defense down the stretch.
Senior Tony Gugino nailed a 3-point basket to take Hillsdale from a two-point deficit to a one-point lead at the 3:48 mark of overtime. The Chargers then forced three straight misses by the Warriors, and didn't allow WSU to get an offensive rebound on any of those possessions.
Senior Evan Steward made two free throws, and Luke Laser made a free throw with two seconds left to help the Chargers wrap up the victory.
Laser played one of his best all-around games in a Charger uniform, and has played with improved confidence throughout the past month. He led the team with 17 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals.
Senior guard Keith MacKenzie came back from a leg injury to make big plays for the Chargers. On the first possession after he re-entered the game, he drained a 16-foot jump shot that seemed to energize the Chargers. MacKenzie finished the game with 17 points and three assists.
All of Gugino's field goals came from behind the 3-point arc, and he had 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Steward added 10 points and three steals to Hillsdale's effort.
The Chargers will host another team they played to overtime earlier this season, Northwood University, starting at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Click on the link below for the box score from Thursday's game.
Box score
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