The Hillsdale College men's basketball team got off to a slow start offensively in Saturday's contest against Trevecca Nazarene at home, but the Chargers' defense was on point from the start, and that was the difference in a 78-51 victory that gives Hillsdale a 9-0 start to the 2022-23 season.
The Chargers shot just 31% from the floor in the first half as #7/9 Hillsdale struggled to get going, but the Chargers were tenacious at the other end, holding the visiting Trojans to just 22 first-half points to take an eight-point advantage into the break.
That strong defensive effort continued in the second half as Hillsdale's offense caught up, as the Chargers came out of the break on a 12-2 run to blow the game wide open. Hillsdale ended the second half with 49 points in the period, and shot well over 50% from the field in a solid offensive half.
Balanced scoring again was key for the Chargers, with four players in double-figures and nine total in the scorebook. Jack Gohlke led the Chargers in scoring for the fourth straight game, finishing with 15 points, including three made 3-pointers, while sophomore Charles Woodhams had another impressive effort off the bench with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes of action as Hillsdale's sixth man.
Down low, the Chargers got big performances from both of their big men. Senior starter Peter Kalthoff had another impressive performance, recording a second-consecutive double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in the victory, while sophomore Eric Radisevic played well in 17 minutes of relief off the bench, chipping in 10 points and five rebounds of his own while also leading the team in assists with four.
Joe Reuter chipped in six points and seven rebounds as well for the Chargers, and Cole Nau added seven points as well.
Bench play was a big key for Hillsdale in the victory, as both redshirt freshman Cole McWhinnie and sophomore Sam Vasiu made solid contributions in their first extended action of the season. McWhinnie, playing a career-high 10 minutes, scored five quick points off the bench to help the Chargers out of a first-half scoring drought, and chipped in two rebounds, two assists and a steal as well. Vasiu, meanwhile, hit both of the shots he attempted in six minutes of action in the first and second half for a career-high five points as well.
The win moves Hillsdale to 2-0 overall in the G-MAC after the first weekend of play. The Chargers are one of just four remaining undefeated teams in conference play, and the only unbeaten team to play two conference games in the first weekend of G-MAC play. Hillsdale now has a full week to its next contest at Ohio Dominican, on Saturday, Oct. 10. The Panthers are off to a 2-5 start, 0-2 in G-MAC play, but have a talented roster and always give the Chargers a tough game on their home court in Columbus, Ohio.
Photo by David Dermer