Exhibition games allow basketball coaches to get a fresh glimpse into what they have coming back, and a more articulate view on the prospects they have.
If Saturday night's game is any indication, Chargers head coach John Tharp had to be encouraged by what he saw from his young players.
Hillsdale lost an exhibition game to the University of Toledo 79-63 at Savage Arena in Ohio. The regular season gets underway at home on Friday, November 8.
Two of Hillsdale's redshirt-freshmen, forward Patrick Cartier and guard Jack Gohlke, combined to score 28 points, nearly half of Hillsdale's total for the game. It was the first extended game action either of them had received since their high school days, and they both showed impressive skills.
Cartier, who was one of the team's starters, finished 7-of-12 from the field and scored 16 points to lead the Chargers. He also led the team with 8 rebounds including 4 on the offensive glass.
Gohlke came off the bench to hit four 3-point baskets, going 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, scoring 12 points in the game.
The Rockets shot 48 percent from the floor, compared to 38 for the Chargers. UT also held a 47-33 edge on the boards. Hillsdale had 17 assists on its 26 made field goals and had fewer turnovers than Toledo, both very positive numbers for the team.