After visiting Malone battled back to cut Hillsdale's lead to two midway through the second half, the Chargers men's basketball team seized control down the stretch at both ends of the floor, pulling away for a 71-59 home victory on Saturday.

Hillsdale answered that first push by the Pioneers with a 6-0 run to re-establish control, started by a pull-up jumper in the key by freshman Logan Beaston. The Chargers then shut the door with baskets on four straight possessions, including a 3-pointer each by Mikey McCollum, CJ Yarian and Joe Reuter, to push Hillsdale's lead to 65-54 with 3:52 to play. That score came close to putting the game out of reach, and the Chargers kept the pedal to the floor in the final four minutes, answering every Malone basket and converting offensively to secure the 12-point win.

The Chargers were out in front for most of the contest, leading for 35 minutes after seizing control with back-to-back 3-pointers by Charles Woodhams and McCollum midway through the first half, but Malone refused to let Hillsdale pull away, making tough, contested shots and doing enough defensively to stay in contact. 

Ultimately, however, Malone couldn't truly solve Hillsdale's defense, as the Chargers held the Pioneers to 43.9% shooting from the floor, and 4 for 22 shooting from 3-point range. Hillsdale, meanwhile, was sharp from beyond the arc, knocking down 10 3-pointers on 43.5% shooting from deep in a performance that helped separate the Chargers and seal the win late.

Hillsdale got a sensational performance from Reuter in the victory, as the senior forward was 10 of 11 from the floor with two 3-pointers, five rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 34 minutes to lead the way. Charles Woodhams chipped in 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals in a solid all-around performance, and sophomore Mikey McCollum knocked down three 3-pointers off the bench to finish with 11 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Junior Ashton Janowski was an excellent facilitator at the point for the Chargers in the victory, setting a new career high in assists with seven and chipping in seven points as well, while Yarian added five points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

With the win, Hillsdale is now 8-1 overall, 2-0 in league play and one of just four teams to make it through the opening weekend in the G-MAC unscathed. The Chargers will have the next week off ahead of a tough road trip to Walsh next Saturday, December 14 at 3 p.m. as Hillsdale looks to stay unbeaten in G-MAC play.

Photo by Vinny Hill