Seniors Stedman Lowry and Ryan Badowski weren't going to let Senior Day pass without adding to the many memories they've provided Charger fans over the past few years.
The program's two seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony, then went out and combined for 58 points in Hillsdale's 94-76 win over Ohio Valley University Saturday at the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The win makes Hillsdale 19-7 overall and 13-6 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Lowry and Badowski, the team's two leading scorers this season, took this one over in the second half after a high–scoring first half that saw the Fighting Scots lead by as many as 8 points early on. But the will and skill of these seniors would not be denied by an Ohio Valley team that played a style that was tough for Hillsdale to guard, especially in the first half.
Badowski was simply unbelievable, scoring a career-high 36 points on 13-for-18 shooting from the field. He picked up his points in all kinds of ways – he was 5-for-7 on 3-point shots, made all five of his free throws and consistently drove to the basket for layups. His 36 points were the most scored by any Hillsdale player since Kyle Cooper had 40 in a win over Northern Michigan on February 13, 2016.
His final basket at home was fittingly, a two-handed power dunk on a well-designed and well-executed play.
Lowry, who ranks third in school history in career 3-point field goals made, also had a fine game, scoring 22 points with five made 3-point baskets in the victory. After missing his first two 3s, he made his next two, and gave some energy to the team after it fell behind early in the contest. Lowry also pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out 2 assists in a fine performance.
Ohio Valley held an 18-10 lead seven minutes into the game thanks to some pinpoint shooting of its own. The Scots were 8-for-11 from behind the arc in the first half. What helped keep Hillsdale in the game was a 7-0 edge at the free throw line and the play of Badowski, who had 21 of his 36 points in the first half.
The Scots led with 1:31 left in the first half 44-42, but threes by Badowski and Lowry gave the Chargers a 48-44 edge going into halftime.
Ohio Valley was within 6, 66-60, with 10:54 to go in the game. But Hillsdale went on a 13-1 run to remove all doubt from the result of this one. A 3-pointer from the top of the key by junior Gordon Behr capped the run, which in less than four minutes, turned this into a 19-point Charger advantage.
Behr had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, while freshman Austen Yarian came off the bench to grab a team-high 11 rebounds.
Hillsdale wraps up the regular season next Saturday with a showdown with the University of Findlay in Ohio.