Hillsdale 84, Michigan Tech 62

March 3, 2012 - Playing in front of the largest basketball crowd at Jesse Philips Arena in more than a decade, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team stormed its way into the GLIAC Tournament championship game.

Playing at an extraordinary level at both ends of the floor, the Chargers whipped Michigan Tech University 84-62 in Saturday afternoon's GLIAC Tournament Semifinal.

Hillsdale, 24-4 on the season, will face the University of Findlay in the 2012 GLIAC Tournament championship game, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Jesse Philips Arena. This is the second time in the past three seasons Hillsdale will face Findlay for the conference tournament championship. However, unlike 2010, this championship game will be played in Hillsdale.

Nearly 1,100 fans saw Hillsdale pick apart the Huskies with brilliant execution on offense and defense. The Charger ran their motion offense with precision and patience, and found holes in the defense to result in one of its best all-around games of the season.

Leading the way was First-Team All-GLIAC forward Brad Guinane, who was in a beautiful flow throughout the game. He scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the floor. He swished six 3-point field goals, while making 10 of his first 11 shots.

Guinane's game was not only a career-high in scoring for him, but his accurate shooting helped senior point guard Tyler Gerber to a career-high of his own.

Gerber finished with seven points and a career-high 13 assists in 34 minutes on the floor. The Chargers came into this game a well-coached, well-prepared unit and sent the huge crowd home happy, anticipating another conference tournament game at home Sunday.

Most of the first half was played tightly, but a Guinane 3-pointer on the final possession of the half seemed to swing momentum more strongly in Hillsdale's favor. After the Chargers missed a chance to increase its lead to double digits, Michigan Tech cut Hillsdale's lead to six, 33-27. But Guinane's shot gave Hillsdale a nine-point halftime lead, and a good dose of that positive momentum.

Playing to chants of "M-V-P!" from the crowd, Guinane's shooting quickly helped the Chargers extend their lead well into the teens early in the second half. Hillsdale's offense exploded for 48 second-half points.

Hillsdale shot 56 percent from the field in the game, and was 11-for-26 from behind the 3-point arc.

Sophomore Tim Dezelski scored 14 points with two rebounds and four assists in 25 effective minutes on the floor. Six other Hillsdale players scored between four and eight points, illustrating the balance that has served the team well during this special season.

2011-12 GLIAC Player of the Year Ali Haidar had 21 points, while guard Austin Armga led the Huskies with 24.