January 5, 2008 – The Hillsdale College men’s basketball team ran into a defensive effort the likes of which it hadn’t seen so far this season Saturday afternoon.

The Chargers came into Saturday’s game at the University of Findlay averaging more than 86 points per game. But the powerful and athletic Oilers held the Chargers 26 points below their average in an 82-60 victory at Findlay’s Croy Gymnasium. Hillsdale falls to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the GLIAC with the loss, while the 15th-ranked Oilers are 12-2 and 3-2 in the conference.

Hillsdale was coming off a 112-110 overtime win at Ashland Thursday night, but Findlay showed why it ranks as one of the toughest teams to play at home in all of Division II.

The key stretch in the contest came in the final eight minutes of the first half. Hillsdale got off to an excellent start and were facing a 27-26 deficit in the first half. But Findlay ended the first half on a 24-1 run to hold a 23-point halftime advantage.

The Chargers played stingy defense to open the second half, holding Findlay to just eight points in the first 11 minutes of the second half. But the Chargers’ shots weren’t falling like they have in so many games earlier this season, and were unable to significantly slice into Findlay’s lead. Hillsdale came as close as 13, 50-37, early in the second half, but never got much closer.

Junior Tony Gugino led Hillsdale with 22 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Senior Tim Homan, playing near his hometown of Celina, Ohio for the final time, scored 18 on 6-for-12 shooting from the field.

Hillsdale will look to get back on the winning track when it comes back home for a Thursday night tilt vs. Lake Superior State University.

To view the box score from Saturday's game, click on the link below.

Box score