An unforgettable game unfolded to one of the loudest crowds in recent memory at Hillsdale College's Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena Saturday, and anyone associated with the Charger men's basketball team will do nothing but smile at the memories that were created.
A 27-11 run over the game's final 5:31 gave the Chargers an 82-80 win over a true nemesis, Lake Superior State University, in front of nearly 700 loud fans. The win keeps Hillsdale undefeated at home, and improves the team to 11-3 overall and 7-3 in the GLIAC. The Chargers are tied for second place in the GLIAC North Division.
The Chargers' first win over the Lakers since Dec. 1, 2012 couldn't have been any sweeter. LSSU held the lead for 82 percent of the game, and the lead was as wide as 15, with 7:27 left in the game. But this Hillsdale team, frustrated by the skill and toughness of the Lakers so often in recent years, absolutely refused to give up, and the Chargers went to an unlikely source to start their comeback.
Senior guard Zach Miller has excelled as the team's starting point guard and "table-setter" for the team's primary offensive weapons over the years. But in crunch time Saturday, Miller became the primary offensive weapon.
With the Lakers sticking close to Kyle Cooper and Stedman Lowry all game long, Miller took the ball down low and went to work from the rim area, an unusual spot for a 5-foot-8 point guard to do damage. But there was no measurement on the size of Miller's heart and guts.
He scored 15 of his career-high 24 points over the game's last three minutes. If he didn't make a layup, he marched to the free throw line, where he sank nine of 10 free throw attempts in that span. The only other players to score during this epic comeback were Kyle Cooper, Nate Neveau and Stedman Lowry, who all made their baskets off Miller assists.
If Miller worked the team back into the game, Lowry provided its most decisive shot. A series of LSSU turnovers helped the Chargers continually cut into the lead, and a backcourt turnover by the Lakers gave Hillsdale the ball with 11 seconds to go, down 79-77. Out of the stoppage of play, Miller whipped a pass to Lowry, who was set up in the left corner, and Lowry calmly drilled a 3-pointer that gave Hillsdale its first lead since early in the first half, 80-79.
Another backcourt turnover by the Lakers led to a foul of Cooper, who made both free throws, making it a three-point Hillsdale lead with 6 seconds to play. On the next possession, the Chargers smartly fouled the Lakers before they could toss up a potentially game-tying 3-pointer.
LSSU's Devin Daly, one of the GLIAC's best players, made the first free throw then intentionally missed the second. Laker center Michael Nicholson managed to grab the rebound and throw up a desperation shot from the baseline, but it fell short, sending the Charger players, coaching staff and fans into a wild celebration.
A big turning point occurred due in part to Miller's low-post work in the game's last minutes. Laker point guard Akaemji Williams was brilliant, scoring 21 points with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. He crushed the Chargers' spirits with quick drives in the lane and 3-point shots with the defense in perfect position throughout the contest. But he committed four fouls in the second half, and fouled out while trying to get past Hillsdale's trapping defense with 2:27 left in the game and LSSU holding a 71-66 lead. Without their floor leader, Lake Superior State was unable to prevent the Chargers from mounting their comeback.
Cooper faced a physical and suffocating defense the entire game, but still was able to score 22 points and grab 11 rebounds. Lowry had 18 points, making four 3-point shots, none of them bigger than the last one. Neveau came off the bench to score 11, while Miller dished out 7 assists.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Both teams attempted 20 free throws in the second half – Hillsdale made 17, Lake Superior State made 14 – the Chargers won by two points…Hillsdale shot 12 percent better from the floor in the second half compared to the first – 48 to 36…The Chargers finished the game 19-for-22 from the free throw line…Miller moved into eighth place on Hillsdale's career assist list in the win, and he now has 341 for his career.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale takes on Michigan Tech University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kadie Lowery