Box Score
March 10, 2012 – Not enough points, not enough time.
The 2011-12 Hillsdale College men's basketball season came to an end in Saturday's first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament, in heartbreaking fashion to the University of Indianapolis. The Chargers lost a 66-62 decision to the Greyhounds, ending their season with a 24-6 record.
This hard-fought game saw Indianapolis lead by as many as 11 points early in the second half, but the Chargers fought back like champions, playing with pride and character. Hillsdale tied the game up at 57 apiece, and it was a one-point ballgame as the clock dipped under two minutes, But the Greyhounds' quick guards made key shots when they needed them, and Hillsdale allowed chances to take momentum and the lead slip by.
Hillsdale trailed by nine points at halftime, but improved work on the boards was a key part to the team's comeback. The Chargers collected 14 offensive rebounds, but made just one of their seven 3-pointers in the second half.
Senior forward Brad Guinane led Hillsdale with 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Senior guard Tyler Gerber had 14 points and three assists, and senior Brent Eaton added seven. These three seniors have helped to lead the Chargers to success not seen in more than 30 years at the school.
In 2011-12, the Chargers finished with an overall winning percentage of .800, tied for the best in a single season in school history. The three aforementioned seniors became the first set of three teammates to ever cross the 1,000-point plateau in the same careers, and Hillsdale captured its first-ever GLIAC South Division championship this season. The team's regular season conference title was its second in school history and first since 1980-81.
The Greyhounds took full advantage of the Chargers' mistakes in the first half, outscoring Hillsdale 16-1 in points off turnovers. Indianapolis' two leading scorers, Wilbur O'Neal and Adrian Moss, combined for just two points on 1-for-7 shooting in the first half, but Indy's secondary scoring was extremely effective in the game's first 20 minutes.
