There were many questions entering the season about whether or not the Hillsdale College men's basketball team could replace the pieces they lost from an Elite Eight team in 2021-22.
Kicking off the season against a strong Dallas Baptist team that returned five starters in the 2022-23 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday at Florida Southern University in Lakeland, Florida, the Chargers looked like a team full of answers, not questions.
Hillsdale led nearly wire-to-wire to top the Patriots, 64-57, in an impressive performance that showed the Chargers are more than capable of competing in 2022-23 even without two-time All-American Patrick Cartier on the floor.
Lacking the dominant low-post scorer that Hillsdale had built its offense around the last couple of seasons, the Chargers leaned heavily on its defense to get the job done on Saturday, with sterling results. With patience offensively and tenacious effort defensively, Hillsdale frustrated Dallas Baptist heavily in the first half, holding the Patriots to just 21 points in the first 20 minutes while building a double-digit lead.
Hillsdale was still up by 10 with 11:30 to play when Dallas Baptist turned up the pressure, forcing multiple Chargers turnovers to cut Hillsdale's lead to 53-52 with 4:06 to play. With the Patriots getting hot, the Chargers buckled down, getting a critical stop followed by a 3-pointer from senior guard Kyle Goessler to push the lead back to two possessions.
Dallas Baptist answered with a three of their own at the other end, but Goessler came through, drawing a foul on a 3-point attempt and making all three free throws to extend the lead back to four again with 2:21 to play.
Leading 59-55, the Chargers went 5 for 6 at the line in the final two minutes to pull away as the Patriots were unable to break down Hillsdale's defense late to get back in the contest and have a chance at the buzzer.
Stepping into a starting role for the first time for the Chargers, Reuter was a rock for the Chargers, leading the Chargers with 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as well for his first career double-double. Goessler also had a strong game for the Chargers, knocking down three 3-pointers and scoring eight of the Chargers' final 11 points to finish with 16 on the night.
Hillsdale's other three starters each played important roles as well. In his first start at center, senior Peter Kalthoff just missed a double-double of his own, recording eight points, a career-high nine rebounds, and two blocks. Jack Gohlke chipped in egiht points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Chargers, and Cole Nau added eight points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals as well.
The Chargers also got a lift off the bench from sophomore Eric Radisevic, who saw his first extended time for Hillsdale against the Patriots and recorded seven points, two rebounds and two assists as well.
Hillsdale (1-0) plays again tomorrow, Saturday, to wrap up the SCB Hall of Fame Classic, taking on another quality team in Valdosta State at 3:30 PM.
Photo by David Dermer