January 23, 2008 - For just the second time in the new year, the Hillsdale College men's and women's basketball teams will hit the Jesse Philips Arena court in game action this weekend.

Starting Thursday, the two teams will play a total of nine home games in the next two weeks, giving Hillsdale fans plenty of chances to see two teams enjoying excellent 2007-08 campaigns.

This weekend's slate of games will feature the Chargers taking on Mercyhurst College Thursday (6/8 p.m.) and Gannon University Saturday (1/3 p.m.).

There will be several presentations and special guests around Saturday's home games. Between the men's and women's game, Charger quarterback Mark Nicolet will be presented with the 2007 Jack McAvoy Award, with Jack McAvoy himself tentatively scheduled to be here to give the award out. This is the first time in the 12-year history of the award that a Hillsdale athlete has been named the winner of the award named after the former Hillsdale College athletic director.

After the conclusion of Saturday's men's game, there will be an alumni game featuring some great Charger players of the past, including all-time leading scorer Eric Allaire and former All-American Dale Allen. The game will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m.

MEN'S PREVIEW
Hillsdale's men's team begins a five-game, two-week homestand Thursday with a contest vs. Mercyhurst College. This series has seen the two teams have a home court disadvantage over the past couple seasons. Road teams are 4-2 in games between these teams since the start of the 2004-05 season, and the Lakers have defeated the Chargers in Hillsdale twice in a row.

Hillsdale has played eight of its past nine games on the road, so the team will be very happy to play on a familiar court for just the second time since Dec. 8.

Although the team has been away for some time, its high-scoring ways have not gone away. The Chargers continue to lead the GLIAC in points per game (84.4 points per game), led by the conference's top two individual scorers, Tim Homan (19.6) and Tony Gugino (19.4).

Hillsdale has been held to less than 70 points in just two games this season, the most recent coming Sunday in a 67-66 loss at Northern Michigan University. The Chargers have scored 90 or more points six times this season, and lead the conference in 3-pointers made this season.

Mercyhurst's Terry Smith is 10th in the GLIAC in scoring at 15.4 points per game.

Sitting at 5-3 in conference play, the Chargers are tied with Findlay for second place in the GLIAC South Division. The lone team in front of them is the Gannon University Golden Knights, who are in the midst of an impressive turnaround campaign under third-year coach John Reilly.

The Golden Knights finished in last place in the South Division a year ago, but an infusion of new talent has taken Gannon back to the national rankings, and to the top of the South Division standings. Last Saturday, Gannon gave undefeated Grand Valley one of its toughest tests of the season in a 64-58 loss in Allendale.

Gannon and Hillsdale each rank 1-2 in the GLIAC in total blocked shots and assists, with the Golden Knights also ranking first in the conference in rebounding margin.

The Charger men have won three of the past four meetings with Gannon, butthe Golden Knights took home a 69-59 victory the last time the two teams played.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Hillsdale College's women's basketball team will renew two very different rivalries this weekend.

Thursday's opponent, Mercyhurst, has lost 19 of 23 all-time meetings with the Chargers, including 15 straight decisions. The last time the Lakers beat the Chargers was during the 1999-2000 season.

On the other hand, Gannon has defeated Hillsdale four times in a row, including three straight times in the GLIAC Tournament.

The Chargers have the makings of a terrific season well underway, sporting a 13-3 overall record and 6-2 in the GLIAC. Hillsdale sits in first place in the GLIAC South Division, one game up on Gannon.

The Golden Knights have ended the Chargers' season each of the past three years, in the GLIAC Tournament. The last time the two teams played was in the 2007 GLIAC Tournament Championship Game, an intense, exciting contest won by Gannon 88-77 in Erie.

Gannon lost last year's GLIAC Player of the Year, Christina Jackson, to graduation. However, the Golden Knights are still humming on offense, leading the GLIAC in scoring at 73.6 points per game.

That offense figures to get tested by the Charger defense, which has been stingy most of the season. Hillsdale is coming off a 65-46 road win over Northern Michigan, when it set a new season-low for points allowed in a game. Hillsdale is third in the GLIAC in points allowed, and is first in field goal percentage defense.

Hillsdale trots out a post player of its own who has emerged as a candidate for Player of the Year in junior Katie Cezat. She came into this season never having made a start in her first two seasons with the Chargers. But she has taken full advatnage of the opportunity she's had this season, ranking second in the GLIAC in scoring (20.9) and first in rebounding (11.9). Her rebounding average put her in the top five among all Division II players in the nation.

Click on the links below for information on Hillsdale's opponents this weekend.

Mercyhurst women's basketball

Mercyhurst men's basketball

Gannon women's basketball

Gannon men's basketball