Four players scored in double digits as the Hillsdale College men's basketball team maintained its grip on first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
A balanced effort on offense helped produce a 75-56 Charger win over Trevecca Nazarene University Saturday afternoon at the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The win makes Hillsdale 11-6 overall and 7-1 in the G-MAC.
The offensive rhythm was there from the start for Hillsdale, who opened up a 19-point lead less than 12 minutes into the game. The Trojans hung tough, led by the shooting of freshman guard Chris Rogers.
Rogers made his first six shots of the first half, most of them a high degree of difficulty, as Trevecca sliced that lead in half at various times later in the game.
But Hillsdale simply had too many weapons that were on target, led by junior Davis Larson. Typically an efficient player anyway, Larson was playing in peak form with a team-high 18 points, going 6-for-8 from the field. He drained four 3-point shots and did a great job of moving without the ball.
Hillsdale's ball movement and use of screens were both excellent, as it displayed patience and a willingness to get different people involved in the offense.
Junior guard Connor Hill helped set that tone with a fantastic first 10 minutes in the game. He made his first four shots from the floor and finished with 12 points, 10 of them in the first half. At one point in the first half, Hill had outscored Trevecca's entire team 10-7.
Freshman Patrick Cartier shot 7-for-10 from the floor and had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. His two best points came off a fast break dunk on a pass off the backboard from senior guard Dylan Lowry.
Austen Yarian had 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Tavon Brown came off the bench to add 6 points and 7 rebounds in 24 impactful minutes on the floor.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews