For the second time in three days, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team hung tough with, but ultimately couldn't overcome, a talented Saginaw Valley State team.

After falling to the Cardinals 79-77 on the road on Friday night to open the season, Hillsdale faced SVSU in a rematch at home on Sunday, and the two teams once again found themselves in a two-point game with under two minutes to play. Just as on Friday, however, SVSU kept hold of the lead down the stretch, and thanks to better foul shooting in the closing seconds, were able to win by an 80-73 margin this time.

At the start of the game, the contest was trending toward a blowout, as SVSU came out red hot and raced out to a 32-16 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the first half. In danger of being run off their home court, Hillsdale responded emphatically and brilliantly, showing their grit with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to erase the deficit. Connor Stonebraker and Cole McWhinnie each hit a 3-pointer during the run, and Stonebraker added three more points to help catapult Hillsdale right back into the game. Another Stonebraker 3-pointer got Hillsdale within one point with 2:30 to play in the first half, and the Chargers trailed by just three points at the break.

The second half was a nip and tuck battle, with Hillsdale repeatedly threatening SVSU's lead, but never finding the right sequence to pull ahead and take control. Caleb Glaser had two baskets and Tommy Morgan hit a jumper in the paint to bring Hillsdale within two points, trailing 70-68, with 1:42 to play. Hillsdale was a potential stop away from a shot to take the lead late, but a clutch  3-pointer by the Cardinals on the ensuing possession got SVSU the separation they needed to hold off the Chargers in the closing seconds.

Hillsdale had a much-improved shooting night from 3-point range in the friendly confines of Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena, with eight makes, led by three from Stonebraker, who finished with a team leading 16 points and eight rebounds. McWhinnie added 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Chargers, while Ashton Janowski chipped in 12 points and Glaser added nine points and eight rebounds.

The Chargers played solidly offensively, but struggled to get stops in transition, giving up 22 fast break points to the Cardinals, and also shot just 7 of 18 from the line, missing out on critical points that could have been the difference in a tight ballgame.

Hillsdale is now 0-2 overall and will remain at home for their next contest, as the Chargers welcome Andrews University for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest on Wednesday.