Players on the Hillsdale College men's basketball team had nerves of steel down the stretch, and it paid off in a much-needed home victory.
The Chargers made all 10 of their free throws in the final 2:45 of Saturday's game, helping it to top Grand Valley State University 73-65 at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The win improves Hillsdale to 10-8 overall and 8-6 in the GLIAC on the season. The team now heads into its busiest week of the regular season, taking on Saginaw Valley State on the road Monday before returning home Thursday to start the second leg of its North Division round robin.
After a rugged first half, the Chargers came out in the second half with better energy and execution, and shot their way to a 12-point lead after a 3-pointer by Zach Miller at the 3:56 mark of the second half. That shot put Hillsdale on top 53-41, and a win seemed secure.
But the Lakers never quit, and started knocking down some shots of their own to tighten the game. GVSU hit back-to-back 3-pointers to work their way back into the game, and got as close as three, after a layup by Ryan Sabin made it a 66-63 game with 1:21 to play. But Hillsdale preserved the lead, and the win with its perfect work from the foul line.
Thanks to Grand Valley State's size inside, much of Hillsdale's offense came from the perimeter. The team attempted a season-high 33 3-point shots – knocking down 14 of them – to highlight the scoring. Seven of Hillsdale's nine made baskets in the first half were from behind the 3-point arc.
Junior forward Kyle Cooper led the way for the Chargers with 19 points, 11 rebounds, a block and a steal. Senior Darius Ware, playing the best basketball of his career of late, had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
One week ago, Ware capped an incredible comeback with a buzzer-beating dunk. He had a play in this game nearly as impactful, if not as dramatic. With the Chargers up five, Ware made a steal between the half court stripe and the 3-point arc as the Lakers were working for a shot with 10 seconds left, ensuring GVSU could not make it a one possession game any longer.
Junior guard Zach Miller, now the GLIAC leader in assists, handed out 7 in this game to go along with 5 points and 4 rebounds. Senior Michael Furlong provided a nice lift to the Chargers in the first half, burying two 3-point shots during an offensively rugged first half.