The Hillsdale College men's basketball team entered its home regular season finale against Thomas More on Thursday night motivated to do everything in its power to make sure the contest wasn't the last home game in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.

Mission accomplished, as Hillsdale never trailed and held on late to top the Saints, 70-65, and keep hopes of a top four seed in the G-MAC Tournament next week and a home quarterfinal alive. 

The Chargers came out firing on all cylinders to start the contest, burying seven 3-pointers and shooting 53.6% from the floor in the first half. Hillsdale led by as many as 20 points and kept the margin in double digits for most of the period, leading 39-29 at the break despite a late Thomas More push.

Hillsdale continued to cruise in the second half, holding Thomas More scoreless for nearly five full minutes and building their advantage back to 16. But the Saints, who are fighting for their own opportunity to host a home playoff game, refused to go quietly, methodically cutting into the Chargers' lead until it was down to a thin 60-56 advantage with 4:09 to play. 

With the game on the line,Hillsdale executed offensively, as junior Ashton Janowski knocked down two clutch jumpers and senior Charles Woodhams banked in a floater through contact to give Hillsdale a 66-60 edge with 47 seconds to go. In desperation mode, Thomas More got the ball into the paint, but senior Joe Reuter came up with a huge block to deny the Saints. That meant all Hillsdale had to do to seal the victory was knock down its free throws, and Mikey McCollum and Janowski combined to go 4 for 4 at the line in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

McCollum was huge for the Chargers in the first half, helping Hillsdale jump out to a big lead with four made 3-pointers as well as getting to the rim and knocking down midrange jumpers. In the second half, Woodhams picked up the torch offensively, with a variety of tough finishes in the paint through contact to help keep the Saints at bay. Each player finished with 22 points to co-lead the Chargers on the night, and Woodhams also chipped in six rebounds, three steals and two assists. 

Janowski also played a big role down the stretch and finished with 11 points for the Chargers, Reuter added seven points and four assists, and Caleb Glaser chipped in five points and three rebounds off the bench. Hillsdale put up an excellent defensive effort in the win, holding Thomas More to 40.8% shooting from the floor and 5 of 14 from 3-point range, with only a 20 of 24 performance at the line keeping the Saints in the game. 

The Chargers also were efficient offensively, tying the program's single game record with just three turnovers in the contest.

Hillsdale improves to 18-9 overall, and 12-7 in G-MAC play. The victory, paired with a Northwood upset win over Lake Erie on Thursday night, mean the Chargers are now in a three-way tie for third place in the G-MAC standings with the Storm and Saints, and based on the Points Rating System standings, should be able to clinch a top four seed and a home playoff game with a win at Malone on Saturday in the regular season finale. The Chargers could move up as high as the third seed depending on how things play out on Saturday, but must get a victory to stay in a top four spot and avoid a road trip for the G-MAC Quarterfinal on Tuesday. 

Photo by Hope Canlas