The Charger men's basketball team played on a Thursday night for the first time in three weeks. It went well.
Hillsdale played a consistent, high-level game at both ends of the court in a 79-48 win over Ohio Valley University in Vienna, West Virginia. The win snaps a two-game losing streak and improves the team to 17-7 overall and 13-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
This marked the fourth game this season Hillsdale has held an opponent to fewer than 50 points. The Chargers did it on this night by holding the Fighting Scots to 29.5 percent shooting from the field (18-for-61) and 17.6 percent on 3-point shots (3-for-17). The Chargers were quick and disciplined on defense and allowed very few open looks to the home team.
On the offensive end of the court, Hillsdale got ideally balanced scoring, with five different players scoring 9 or more points. Senior guard Harrison Niego helped get the team off to a good start, scoring all 9 of his points early in the first half by hitting each of his first three 3-point shots. Runs of 10-0 and 8-0 in the first half got the Chargers in control and they never looked back.
Senior center Nick Czarnowski put together his best game in a while, leading the team with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He was a force inside by shooting 7-for-10 from the field in 23 minutes of action.
Sophomore Davis Larson was instrumental in both early scoring runs for the Chargers and finished with 13 points and 4 rebounds, going 5-for-8 from the floor. Nate Neveau's 11 points were the most he's scored in a game since Nov. 15. Both Larson and Neveau connected on three 3-point shots in the win.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews