One of the top 10 defensive teams in NCAA DII showed why they're so highly regarded once again in a road victory on Monday night, as #15/21 Hillsdale stifled host Northwood from start to finish in a 74-54 victory.

Northwood shot just 40.8% from the floor and 5 for 14 from 3-point range as Hillsdale improved to 10-1 overall and remained unbeaten in G-MAC play.

Holding the Timberwolves in check at the defensive end, the Chargers put the game away with two big runs on either side of the halftime break. Hillsdale closed the first period on a 12-4 run aided by three 3-pointers from redshirt freshman Logan Beaston and a fourth trey from senior Charles Woodhams to turn a one-point lead into a 36-27 halftime advantage.

Then, coming out of the break, the Chargers blew the game open with a 15-3 run in the first six minutes of the second half, fueled by transition baskets from defensive stops and putbacks on the offensive glass, to stretch their advantage to 21 points. Northwood never got the deficit back under 20 from there, and Hillsdale led by as many as 31 points before a late Timberwolves run in the final two minutes closed the gap.

Hillsdale bludgeoned Northwood in rebounding, outboarding the Timberwolves 40 to 26 and scoring 12 second-chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. The Chargers were also lethal in transition, turning 13 Northwood turnovers into 20 points at the other end.

Woodhams led a balanced effort by Hillsdale, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocks as one of four Chargers to finish in double figures. Senior Joe Reuter added 14 points and six rebounds, Beaston chipped in 11 points and sophomore Mikey McCollum added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Senior Eric Radisevic and junior Ashton Janowski each chipped in eight points for the Chargers, and CJ Yarian added four points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Hillsdale remains one of three unbeaten teams in G-MAC play with the win, along with Findlay and Kentucky Wesleyan, and the Chargers sit in good position with the bulk of the conference slate and tougher challenges awaiting in 2025 after the Christmas Break. First, however, Hillsdale finishes off 2024 with its final non-conference game of the season, a home contest against a solid Indianapolis squad out of the GLVC at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Photo by Ashton Janowski