Schedule:
Hillsdale (17-8, 11-6 G-MAC) at #13/15 Findlay (22-3, 15-2 G-MAC) | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 | Croy Gymnasium | Findlay, OH
 
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Additional Info:
Hillsdale Roster | Findlay Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Findlay Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
Projected Starters:
Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, Jr, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (10.8 ppg, 2.4 apg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Sr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (13.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.4 apg); #30 Logan Beaston, rFr., G, Tiffin, OH/Columbian (7.2 ppg); #33 Joe Reuter, Sr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (12.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3 apg, 1.6 spg); #35 Eric Radisevic, Sr., F, Brookfield, WI/Central (8.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
 
Findlay: #1 Will Aljancic, So., F, Louisville, OH/Louisville (14.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg); #3 Mekhi Elmore, Jr., G, Dayton, OH/Taft/MidAmerica Nazarene (10.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.5 spg); #10 Jagger Landers, Jr., F, Antwerp, OH/Antwerp (10.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg); #12 Anthony Johnson, So., G, Kettering, OH/Fairmont (8.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg); #14 Josh Thorbahn, Sr., G, Ottoville, OH/Ottoville (5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
 
 
Scouting the Opposition:
Findlay: It's another big meeting in the Hillsdale/Findlay rivalry for both squads on Thursday night, as the Oilers look to wrap up a share the G-MAC crown, and Hillsdale seeks a marquee road victory that would vault them into potentially hosting a quarterfinal game in the upcoming G-MAC Tournament.

After back-to-back disappointing seasons with no postseason appearance, Findlay is fully back among the DII elite with a top 15 ranking in both polls and a stellar 22-3 record, along with a 15-2 mark in G-MAC play.

The Oilers have embraced an up-tempo style that includes an 11-man rotation and extremely balanced scoring. Athletic sophomore forwards Will Aljancic and Jagger Landers are the primary weapons, but the pair gets plenty of support, including from hometown hero Jake Bishop, sixth-man Ian Ioppolo and veterans Anthony Johnson and Mason Brandt. The second-semester addition of athletic transfer guard Mekhi Elmore has added another dimension to a dangerous Findlay attack.

Findlay has been excellent offensively, leading the G-MAC with 86 points per game, and their 15-point scoring margin ranks among the nation's best. The Oilers have had a couple of close calls recently, but a victory over second-place Kentucky Wesleyan has given them a massive lead in the G-MAC standings.   
 
Scouting the Chargers:
A dominant home win over Northwood on Saturday ended a rough recent stretch for the Chargers, and gives Hillsdale a chance to secure a top four finish and a home game in the G-MAC Tournament with a strong finish. A road upset of the league-leading Oilers this week would put Hillsdale in prime position to do just that.

Entering this winter, the Chargers went from returning only one starter last year to returning four of five starters this season, 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 Evan Morrissey as his assistant for a second year.

 
Matchup History:

• Hi A nearby school and arch-nemesis of Hillsdale's since both teams' days in the GLIAC, Findlay has been a difficult challenge for Hillsdale for years, with a 59-14 edge all-time in a series dating back to the 1984-85 season. That said, there's been a shift since both teams joined the G-MAC in 2017, as six of Hillsdale's 14 wins against the Oilers have come in that stretch, and Findlay is just 6-5 against the Chargers in that time. Findlay won an earlier meeting at Hillsdale this season on Jan. 25, 76-71

 
Other Notes:

• The seedings for the 2025 G-MAC Tournament will be determined by the Points Rating System. Currently Hillsdale is fifth in the PRS and would travel to Thomas More for the quarterfinal round if the season ended today.
• Senior forward Joe Reuter delivered one of the defining moments of an impressive four-year career at Hillsdale with seven points in overtime to lead the Chargers past Kentucky Wesleyan on Feb. 1. The 2021-22 G-MAC Freshman of the Year and a two-time All-G-MAC player, Reuter has been crucial for the Chargers this season, averaging 11.9 points per game while ranking sixth in the G-MAC in rebounds per game (7), seventh in assists per game (3), sixth in blocked shots per game (0.8), first in steals per game (1.9) and ninth in free throw percentage (.714). Reuter also is working his way up the all-time lists statistically at Hillsdale, as his 1,322 career points rank 22^nd all time, and he surpassed the 500-rebound milestone earlier this season.
• Reuter has also become one of the league's top players in forcing turnovers, leading the G-MAC in both steals and steals per game. The senior has two five-steal contests this season, and with 47 steals in 2024-25 and 132 for his career, he's close to cracking the top 10 at Hillsdale for both single season and career steals.
• Sophomore Mikey McCollum has been a huge asset for the Chargers off the bench, keeping Hillsdale's second unit humming at a high level offensively even without the starters on the floor. McCollum is averaging 11.9 points per game, third most on the team, thanks to 46 made 3-pointers and a strong performance at the foul line.  Freshman Logan Beaston has been prolific from deep as well, with 49 made 3-pointers in his first collegiate campaign, and the team's leading scorer, senior Charles Woodhams, also has 42 made 3-pointers as outside shooting has been a big asset for Hillsdale on the season.
• The Chargers are playing at a high level so far at both ends of the floor, averaging 75.4 points per game offensively, and ranking first in the G-MAC and 19th in the nation in scoring defense at 66.9 points per game.
• 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 25 games, Hillsdale has continued to excel on that front, conceding just 32.1% from beyond the arc, which ranks first in the G-MAC.
• Another facet of Hillsdale's excellent defense is its ability to control the defensive glass. The Chargers concede just 30.4 rebounds per game to opponents, second fewest in the G-MAC and ninth fewest at the NCAA DII level. The Chargers are also among league leaders in blocked shots this year, averaging 3.04 per game with 11 of 13 players who've seen the court recording at least one block for the Chargers.
• Hillsdale prioritizes taking care of the basketball and passing to set up quality shots, and that's reflected in the team's strong assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.54, the 12^th best mark nationally. That emphasis has helped the Chargers become one of the more efficient offensive teams in conference play, ranking fifth in the G-MAC in field goal percentage (47.3%), fourth in 3-point percentage (36.2%), and fifth in free throw percentage (72.6%).