Saturday's game between the men's basketball teams from Hillsdale College and Ohio Dominican University was one of those that had the flow and eventual outcome of the game be evident from the opening moments of the contest.
The Panthers couldn't miss from the perimeter, making 11 of their first 17 3-point field goal attempts en route to a 77-64 win over the Chargers in Columbus. The loss is Hillsdale's first in conference play and drops the team to 9-6 overall and 5-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Hillsdale didn't necessarily shoot poorly in a first half that saw it trail by 19 - 43 percent overall from the floor - but ODU's light-sout shooting helped it quickly build a big lead, 50-31, at intermission. The Chargers were cold from behind the 3-point arc, going 1-for-9 in the first half compared to 10-for-16 for the host Panthers.
Hillsdale's defense tightened up considerably in the second half, holding Ohio Dominican to just 27 points after a 50-point first half, but a deficit of 19 points at halftime, on the road, is difficult to overcome.
Rebounding was also a key for ODU's win, as the Panthers enjoyed a 36-28 edge on the boards. The Chargers missed 34 shots in the game, but were only able to pull down 7 offensive rebounds, a testament to the Panthers' work and discipline on their defensive boards.
Junior Austen Yarian was the only Charger to score in double figures in the game with 15 points. He also led the team in rebounding with 7.
Freshmen Patrick Cartier and Cole Nau each scored 9 points, that number being a career-high for Nau, who made three 3-point field foals in 23 minutes off the bench. Jack Gohlke and Connor Hill each added 7 points in the game for Hillsdale.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews