November 16, 2009 - It doesn't get much tougher than playing the number one team in the country.

The Hillsdale College men's basketball team played its second nationally ranked team in 24 hours Monday night. Playing tough and hard for all 40 minutes, the Chargers still lost to preseason No. 1-ranked Bellarmine University, 76-68 at the James Dickensheets Classic in Institute, West Virginia.

Hillsdale will next face Division I team the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night on the road.

Playing against a Bellarmine team that is talented and athletic, Hillsdale did not back down at any point in the game, but never leading after the game's opening minutes.

The Knights clung to a five-point halftime lead, but pulled away in the second half after an 11-0 run turned a 44-42 game into a sizeable 55-42 edge for the Knights with 11 minutes left in the second half.

Hillsdale did limit Bellarmine to 39 percent shooting from the floor and blocked seven shots, including five from freshman center Nick Washburn. But the Knights controlled the boards, outrebounding Hillsdale 47-33 in the contest.

Sophomore swingman Brent Eaton hit 6-of-11 shots from the floor and scored a team-high 17 points for the Chargers. Washburn had four points and two rebounds to go along with his five blocked shots in just 15 minutes on the floor.

Junior guard Joe Caruso came off the bench to score 11 points, making three 3-point baskets. Junior Nick Meinert added seven off the bench, while sophomore Matt Clarke grabbed seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

Click on the link below for the box score from Monday's game.

Bellarmine 76, Chargers 68