On a day where outside shots weren't falling for the first time this season, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team found a different way to win in an 81-53 victory over visiting Judson University.

Hillsdale shot just 26.5% from 3-point range after three straight games of shooting 50% or better beyond the arc, but the Chargers defense was on point, holding the Eagles to 1 for 11 from beyond the arc as well and recording 16 steals that Hillsdale turned into 20 fast-break points and 30 points off turnovers.

The signs were there early that it might be an off-shooting night for the Chargers, who missed their first nine 3-point attempts to start the game. Despite the slump, the Chargers remained unfazed, building a double-digit advantage over the first 15 minutes and stretching the lead out to 17 with strong play right before the half. 

Hillsdale stayed locked in defensively after the break, never letting Judson closer than 12 points and slowly pulling further away until the game was out of reach.

While the Chargers as a team struggled from the outside, sophomore Mikey McCollum stayed hot, knocking down five of eight attempts, including all three of Hillsdale's first half 3-pointers, to finish with a team high 20 points as well as four steals. Senior Joe Reuter complimented McCollum with his best game of the 2024-25 season so far, recording a 17 point, 12 rebound double-double along with five steals and two assists.

Caleb Glaser added nine points and four rebounds off the bench for the Chargers, C.J. Yarian chipped in eight points, four rebounds and five assists, and Ashton Janowski added nine points for Hillsdale.

Both Charles Woodhams and Logan Beaston contributed in other ways in quiet offensive nights for the Chargers, as Woodhams grabbed six rebounds and two steals to go with six points, and Beaston dished out four assists to go with five points.

Hillsdale improves to 4-0 overall with the victory, and looks to finish off a three-game homestand by sweeping the competition with a game against Indiana University-Northwest on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Sarah Chappelle