Box score


November 27, 2010 - Junior forward Brent Eaton swished a high-arcing 3-point shot with 13 seconds left to give the Hillsdale College men's basketball team a thrilling 80-77 win over Lewis University Saturday afternoon at Jesse Philips Arena.

The win keeps the Chargers perfect on the season, with a 6-0 record, while the Flyers fell to 3-4. Hillsdale opens conference play at home Thursday, taking on Ashland University at 6 p.m.

Eaton took a hand-off pass from junior point guard Tyler Gerber, and lofted his fifth 3-point shot of the game over three outstretched hands and into the net, proving to be the deciding shot of a game that gt much closer as the second half went along.

This was a key win for the Chargers, over a talented foe within the region. It could be a game that swings the team's NCAA regional postseason hopes come March. And it was a game Hillsdle had full control over through the first 30 minutes.

Hillsdale opened the game cooking offensively, jumping out to a 12-0 lead on the Flyers. Hillsdale shot 62 percent from the field in the first half, and seemed to run its offense at will. Gerber banked in a 3-point shot at the first half buzzer to give the Chargers a 41-29 halftime lead, and they weren't done yet.

The lead grew to 18, 52-34, on a 3-pointer by Eaton, with 16:16 left in the second half. But Lewis slowly climbed back into contention, and chipped away at the lead bit by bit. The Flyers scored an impressive 43 points in the game's final 16 minutes.

Although Lewis never took the lead, it tied the game up for the first time, when Dennis Thomas, Jr. drained a jumper from the baseline to make the score 77-77. On the next possession, the Chargers were able to run one of their favorite plays for Eaton, a brilliant marksman from 3-point land, on a great set up from Gerber.

Eaton was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, and his 25 points are a new season-high. He was complemented by fellow starting forward Brad Guinane, who dazzled the home crowd with his shooting, particularly early in the game. Guinane drained 23 points for Hillsdale, on 9-for-12 shooting from the field.

Gerber, who recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 assists, scored five of his points in the game's final five minutes. Sophomore center Nick Washburn added nine points for the undefeated Chargers.

Hillsdale outscored Lewis 36-21 in 3-pointers in the game, which helped to make up for the Flyers' 18-10 edge at the free throw line.