Schedule
Ohio Dominican (3-2, 0-0 G-MAC) at #20/RV Hillsdale (6-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
Malone (3-3, 0-0 G-MAC) at #20/RV Hillsdale (6-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
Follow/Watch
Live Stats, Video and Tickets
 
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | ODU Roster | Malone Roster | Hillsdale Stats | ODU Stats | Malone Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
Projected Starters
Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, Jr, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (11.7 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1 spg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Sr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3 apg); #30 Logan Beaston, rFr., G, Tiffin, OH/Columbian (11.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg); #33 Joe Reuter, Sr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (10.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg 1 bpg); #35 Eric Radisevic, Sr., F, Brookfield, WI/Central (6.8 ppg)
 
ODU: #3 Terrance Broughton, Jr., G, Detroit, MI/Cass Tech/Central Missouri (10 ppg, 4 apg, 1.6 spg); #15 JeJuan Weatherspoon, Sr., F, Columbus, OH/Northland/West Florida (12.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg); #23 Derek Goodman, Fr., G, Delaware, OH/Olentangy Berlin (5 ppg, 2.4 apg); #25 Zac Kimball, Jr., F, Sydney, Aus./St. Augustine/Fairmont St. (6.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg); #32 Elijah Hinton, Jr., C, Newark, OH/Newark/Malone (13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.2 spg)
 
Malone: #1 Ryan Bartley, Sr., F, Decatur, IL/MacArthur/Mount Mercy (17 ppg, 3.8 rpg); #3 Tre Baumgardner III, Gr., G, Columbus, OH/Africentric/Shawnee St. (11.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.8 spg); #5 Caleb Conard, Jr., F/C, Sunbury, OH/Big Walnut (11.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg); #13 Simon Blair, Gr., G, Greenwich, OH/South Central (14.3 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.2 apg); #34 Ed Wright II, Sr., G, Lorain, OH/Elyria Catholic/MidAmerica Nazarene (11.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg)
 
Scouting the Opposition
ODU: It's a near-total reset at ODU as just two players from a 2023-24 squad that finished in last place in the G-MAC have appeared in a game so far for the Panthers in 2024-25.

Coach Casey Kaufman has dipped heavily into the transfer portal with familiar faces (former Malone players under Kaufman in leading scorer Elijah Hinton and productive guards Terrance Broughton and Brady Moore) as well as additions from other programs like Antonio Carter of WVSU, Jaylan Green of Transylvania and Carson Seeman of Augusta. Freshmen Tony Ezeonu and Derek Goodman are also playing big early minutes for the Panthers as ODU looks to get things turned around

JeJuan Weatherspoon and Zac Kimball, the lone two returning pieces from 2023-24, are big assets in the paint and appear fully recovered from injuries that cut their seasons short a year ago.

At 3-2 to start, ODU has nearly matched their 5 wins all season a year ago, but their three wins have come against two Puerto Rico programs and a non-NCAA program in Penn St.-Beaver, leaving the Panthers with something to prove about their potential entering its conference opener tonight.
 
Malone: With a blend of experienced returners and veteran transfers, Malone is looking to make a big push in the 2024-25 standings after a slight down year by the program's standards last season.

Malone returns two key players from last year in guard Simon Blair, a veteran contributor to several strong Pioneers teams and a first-team All-G-MAC player, as well as big man Caleb Conard, who's seen his role increase every season with the Pioneers. Along with those two contributors, the Pioneers also return Tre Baumgardner, a transfer with previous stints at Ashland and Shawnee State who missed almost all of last season.

Several impact transfers add to Malone's depth. NAIA transfers Ryan Bartley and Ed Wright II have made huge contributions already for Malone after jumping into the starting lineup from day one, while DII transfer Nate Gordon and onetime Alderson Broaddus contributors Tahleik Walker and Frasier LaRocque are important players off the bench.

Malone is looking to be a contender this year in the G-MAC and a strong start to conference play could go a long way.
 
Scouting the Chargers
A big road victory at Midwest Region rival GVSU has Hillsdale entering conference play on a high note, and the Chargers will look to get off to a fast start with two games against G-MAC foes this weekend.
Despite a young squad with only one returning starter in 2023-24, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team put together a solid campaign, winning 18 games and keeping a streak of seven straight top four G-MAC finishes intact.

Now, as the calendar turns from the 2024-25 season, last year's young squad at Hillsdale becomes one of the most veteran teams in the G-MAC, and a serious contender for the G-MAC crown and a potential return trip to the NCAA Tournament after a year's absence.

Entering this winter, the Chargers go from returning only one starter to returning four of five starters, and 11 of 13 players that appeared in at least one game in the 2023-24 season. Leading the way is senior forward Joe Reuter, a two-time All-G-MAC selection who's entering his third year as a starter and one of just three first-team All-G-MAC players from a year ago who are back for the 2024-25 season.

Reuter led Hillsdale in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks last season and should be one of the top players in the conference. He'll be flanked by two more returning double-digit scorers in guards Charles Woodhams, a fifth-year senior, and Ashton Janowski, a junior. Both players came into their own last season as starters and scoring threats and give Hillsdale great toughness and continuity up front.

An area where the Chargers are hoping for major improvement is in the paint. Starting center CJ Yarian returns after a solid first season on the court for Hillsdale, while fellow sophomores Caleb Glaser and Garrett Bolte gained great experience off the bench and will look to continue growing as sophomores. The unit will get a big boost from a healthy Eric Radisevic, who contributed last year but was limited for much of the season by injuries. Now entering 2024-25 fully recovered, Radisevic could make a big impact for the Chargers, who lacked offensive punch from the center position at points in 2023-24 and could jump to another level as a team with better production down low.

Two players who could see their role grow as Hillsdale looks to replace the graduated Samuel Vasiu are sharpshooting sophomore Mikey McCollum and junior point guard Cole McWhinnie, both of whom excelled in substitute roles in 2023-24 and who will compete for more minutes this season.

Additionally, don't count out two players coming off their redshirt years this season. Guard Logan Beaston and post Connor Stonebraker are both skilled offensive players and have the talent to carve out roles of their own on an experienced squad, while further bolstering the Chargers' depth.

Head coach Keven Bradley returns for his second season at the helm after a solid first season, and brings back assistant Evan Morrissey for a second year, while adding Michigan native Travis Schuba to the coaching staff for this campaign as well.

Matchup History

• Hillsdale will look to extend a recent strong run against Ohio Dominican, as the Chargers have won nine straight against the Panthers dating back to 2020. Overall, Hillsdale leads the series 22-5. It's been a tighter battle historically with Malone, as Hillsdale holds a 13-7 lead against the Pioneers. The two teams have split their last six meetings 3-3 and Hillsdale will be looking to avenge a 61-55 road loss in the two programs' only meeting in the 2023-24 season.

 
Other Notes

• The Chargers were picked to finish second in the G-MAC Preseason Poll released in late October, with four first place votes. Defending champion Kentucky Wesleyan was picked to repeat, while defending G-MAC Tournament champion Walsh was picked to finish third. Since joining the league in 2017-18, Hillsdale has never finished lower than third in the final standings.
• Hillsdale remains in the national rankings in the D2CSC poll last week, checking in at tied for 15^th in the nation after a 6-1 start. This is the fourth-straight week the Chargers have been nationally ranked. In addition to the D2CSC poll, Hillsdale also is the top team receiving votes in the NABC Coaches Poll, and is one of four teams in the Midwest Region ranked in the NABC poll, including Ferris St. (6^th), Lake Superior St. (10^th), Upper Iowa (21^st), and G-MAC foe Findlay (RV)
• Hillsdale returns four starters from last year's squad, headlined by returning All-G-MAC honoree Joe Reuter. The senior forward is a third-year starter and a two-time All-Conference player who also was named G-MAC Freshman of the Year for the 2021-22 season. Along with high scoring guards Ashton Janowski and Charles Woodhams, Reuter has been a key piece for Hillsdale so far, nearly averaging a double-double while also sitting among the league leaders in assists and steals as well. Reuter also is working his way up the all-time lists statistically at Hillsdale, as his 1,098 career points now ranks 32^nd all time, and he surpassed the 500-rebound milestone two weeks ago.
• The Chargers are playing at a high level so far at both ends of the floor, averaging 81.9 points per game offensively, and ranking second in the G-MAC and 20^th in the nation in scoring defense at 64 points per game. Hillsdale's 17-points-per-game scoring margin on opponents currently ranks 19th in NCAA DII.
• Hillsdale is known for its excellent 3-point defense, and last year's team was the best the Chargers have had at it since the 3-point line was introduced. Teams shot just 29.3% from deep on Hillsdale last season, the lowest among G-MAC squads and in the top 10 nationally. So far, through seven games, Hillsdale is conceding just 28.5% from beyond the arc, which leads the G-MAC by a significant margin and ranks 30^th in NCAA DII so far.
• The Chargers' strong offensive performance is buoyed by excellent shooting from deep so far in the 2024-25 campaign, as Hillsdale has hit over 50% of 3-point attempts in three of its seven games so far and is in the top 50 nationally in made 3-pointers per game with 9.9 a contest. With a variety of excellent 3-point shooters led by Logan Beaston, who is shooting .426 and leads the G-MAC in makes with 23, there's reason to believe Hillsdale's current rate of 37.9% shooting from beyond the arc may be sustainable over the course of the campaign.
• Hillsdale prioritizes taking care of the basketball and passing to set up quality shots, and that's reflected in the team's stellar assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.81, the second-best mark in the G-MAC and 12^th nationally.