Box score

February 5, 2011 – The trap was nearly sprung on the Hillsdale College men’s basketball team Saturday afternoon. But the Chargers were up to the task, and got their four-game homestand off to a winning start.

The Chargers outlasted the Northwood University Timberwolves 78-71 before more than 500 fans at Hillsdale College’s Jesse Philips Arena. Hillsdale improved to 17-3 overall and 1-3 in the GLIAC, and will welcome Ohio Dominican University next Thursday for its next contest.

In an odd twist to how games have typically gone for the Chargers this season, the home team built up a 13-point halftime lead, increased it to as high as 17 points in the second half, but had to withstand a furious rally by the Timberwolves, to hang on for the win. Hillsdale played solid halfcourt basketball, running its offense fairly well, and put together a 67-50 lead with 5:36 left in the game. That’s when the Timberwolves switched into a full-court, trapping defense, a change in strategy that turned the tide of the contest quickly.

The Chargers committed turnovers on three of their next five possessions, which sparked a 12-1 Northwood run in the span of less than two minutes, which made it a six-point (two possession) game with 2:57 left to play. But the leadership and ballhandling of point guard Tyler Gerber helped the Chargers solve the riddle of Northwood’s trap, as Hillsdale scored points on four of its last five possessions of the game, helping to keep the Timberwolves a comfortable distance away from tying the game.

Hillsdale’s crispness on offense in the game’s first 35 minutes was shown by its big edge in assists. The Chargers doubled the Timberwolves’ assist total in the game, 20-10, while holding a 40-35 edge on the boards.

Four players scored in double figures for Hillsdale, led by Brent Eaton’s 18. He scored 12 of his points in the first half, and did an excellent job of varying his looks on offense. Known as one of the GLIAC’s deadliest 3-point shooters, seven of Eaton’s eight made field goals came from inside the 3-point arc.

Junior Brad Guinane was 7-for-11 from the floor, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes. Guinane did a superb job of playing within the offense, and taking the open shot when it was there for him. Gerber had 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while leading the team with three 3-pointers. Redshirt-freshman forward Tim Dezelski had another effective game off the bench, with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and four steals.

Senior Nick Meinert (pictured) played a big role in the team’s offensive execution in the first half, and set a new career-high with eight assists. He also scored seven points and grabbed six boards.