Men's basketball team wins first GLIAC Tournament game in 15 years, defeating LSSU
GVSU up next at 8:00 Friday at Findlay
March 2, 2010 - For the first time in 15 years, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team is advancing in the GLIAC Tournament.
After a low-scoring first half, the Chargers came back to post a 78-68 victory over Lake Superior State University Tuesday night in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament at Jesse Philips Arena.
The Chargers, now 15-12 on the season, will advance to Friday's tournament semifinals, where they will take on Grand Valley State University at 8 p.m. Friday at the University of Findlay.
The host Oilers will take on Ferris State in the other semifinal, which tips off at 6 p.m.
The GLIAC championship game will take place Saturday, March 6, also at Findlay's Croy Gymnasium.
A disjointed and jump-shooting oriented first half ended with the Chargers clinging to a 26-25 lead, despite shooting just 32 percent from the floor. The Lakers were the more calm team opening the game, and jumped out to an 8-0 lead before Hillsdale made its first basket. But despite facing a deficit as great as seven, Hillsdale clawed back, the same way it has all season.
In the second half, the Chargers' 52 points was one of their highest scoring havles of the season, and they did with the same kind of balance and timely plays that have helped them win 14 of their past 16 games.
The Lakers held a 44-39 lead with 14:20 left in the game, when Hillsdale went on an 18-8 run to grab the lead and mometum. Keying that run was the spectacular play of sophomore forward Matt Clarke, who played his most active and difference-making game of his career.
He accounted for the last four points of that run, converting two offensive rebounds into scores that pushed Hillsdale into a 57-52 lead with 6:28 left in the game. Clarke also had a blocked shot that brough the home crowd off its feet, and had nine points and five rebounds in 14 big minutes off the bench.
Hometown hero Luke Laser, playing his last game in his hometown of Hillsdale, had another fine all-around game with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. His seven first-half points helped keep the Chargers afloat during a cold-shooting first half.
Sophomore guard Tyler Gerber (pictured) also played a big part in turning the game around int he second half, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the team some offensive confidence. He made all eight of his free throws, and finished the ballgame with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Hillsdale last won the GLIAC Tournament in 1995, but hasn't advanced past the first round since then.
Click on the link below for the box score from Tuesday's game.
Chargers 78, Lake Superior State 68
After a low-scoring first half, the Chargers came back to post a 78-68 victory over Lake Superior State University Tuesday night in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament at Jesse Philips Arena.
The Chargers, now 15-12 on the season, will advance to Friday's tournament semifinals, where they will take on Grand Valley State University at 8 p.m. Friday at the University of Findlay.
The host Oilers will take on Ferris State in the other semifinal, which tips off at 6 p.m.The GLIAC championship game will take place Saturday, March 6, also at Findlay's Croy Gymnasium.
A disjointed and jump-shooting oriented first half ended with the Chargers clinging to a 26-25 lead, despite shooting just 32 percent from the floor. The Lakers were the more calm team opening the game, and jumped out to an 8-0 lead before Hillsdale made its first basket. But despite facing a deficit as great as seven, Hillsdale clawed back, the same way it has all season.
In the second half, the Chargers' 52 points was one of their highest scoring havles of the season, and they did with the same kind of balance and timely plays that have helped them win 14 of their past 16 games.
The Lakers held a 44-39 lead with 14:20 left in the game, when Hillsdale went on an 18-8 run to grab the lead and mometum. Keying that run was the spectacular play of sophomore forward Matt Clarke, who played his most active and difference-making game of his career.
He accounted for the last four points of that run, converting two offensive rebounds into scores that pushed Hillsdale into a 57-52 lead with 6:28 left in the game. Clarke also had a blocked shot that brough the home crowd off its feet, and had nine points and five rebounds in 14 big minutes off the bench.
Hometown hero Luke Laser, playing his last game in his hometown of Hillsdale, had another fine all-around game with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. His seven first-half points helped keep the Chargers afloat during a cold-shooting first half.
Sophomore guard Tyler Gerber (pictured) also played a big part in turning the game around int he second half, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers that gave the team some offensive confidence. He made all eight of his free throws, and finished the ballgame with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Hillsdale last won the GLIAC Tournament in 1995, but hasn't advanced past the first round since then.
Click on the link below for the box score from Tuesday's game.
Chargers 78, Lake Superior State 68
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