Schedule
Cedarville (16-8, 10-4 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (14-8, 9-6 G-MAC) | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
Ashland (16-6, 10-5 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (14-8, 9-6 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
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Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Cedarville Roster | Ashland Roster | 2023-24 Hillsdale Stats | 2023-24 Cedarville Stats | 2023-24 Ashland Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
Projected Starters
Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, So, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (9.9 ppg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Jr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (13.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1 spg); #22 Sam Vasiu, Sr., G, Grand Rapids, MI/NorthPointe Christian (7.3 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.3 spg); #31 CJ Yarian, So., F, Cleveland, OH/St. Ignatius (4.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg); #33 Joe Reuter, Jr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (16.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg)
Walsh: #0 Chris Rogers, Sr., G, Harrisonburg, VA/Blue Ridge/Trevecca Nazarene (8.7 ppg, 3.1 apg); #1 Jacob Drees, Sr., F, Hilliard, OH/Davidson (7.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 bpg); #5 Grant Whisman, Sr., F, Middletown, OH/Madison (7.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg); #12 Ethan Sellars, So., G, Ashland, KY/Paul G. Blazer (10 ppg, 1 spg); #32 Jayvon Maughmer, Sr., F, Chillicothe, OH/Chillicothe (20 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Ashland: #3 Trevell Adams, Jr., G, Columbus, OH/South/Hocking College (7.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg); #10 Simon Wheeler, So, G, Detroit, MI/Phoenix Prep (16.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.7 spg); #15 Stefan Stanic, Jr, W, Parma, OH/Normandy (5.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.4 bpg); #20 Maceo Williams, So., F, Gahanna, OH/Lincoln (15.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg); #35 Victor Searls, Sr., C, Hilliard, OH/St. Charles (15.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
Scouting the Opposition
Cedarville: Motivated by a disappointing ending to the 2022-23 season, Cedarville got off to a torrid start this year, racing to a big lead in the G-MAC standings. Three straight losses, however, have brought the Yellow Jackets back to the pack and Cedarville now looks to refocus and get back on track for the stretch run.
Cedarville is stacked top-to-bottom with experienced talent, including four players who've been key members of the rotation for their teams for four-plus years. Leading the way is senior wing Jayvon Maughmer, a dynamic scoring talent and returning first-team All-G-MAC player who is a leading contender for G-MAC Player of the Year so far.
Point guard Chris Rogers and posts Jacob Drees and Grant Whisman are all battle-tested leaders as well for the Yellowjackets, and Cedarville has gotten great support from its bench, with contributions from guards Anthony Ruffolo, Kyle Thomas and Timothy Davis.
All that has Cedarville tied for the G-MAC lead, but the Yellowjackets must regroup from recent disappointments and finish the job against a tough closing stretch to claim their first G-MAC crown since 2012-13.
Cedarville is coached by Pat Estepp, who's built a legendary resume in 16 years at Cedarville, including 282 wins, two NCCAA national titles, two conference titles, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021-22.
Ashland: The preseason favorites have had an up and down season as the Eagles have had to overcome a series of injuries, but remain in the hunt just a game back of first place in the G-MAC entering the stretch run.
An injury to Brandon Haraway robbed the Eagles of the defending G-MAC Player of the Year, but Ashland has adjusted, with dynamic sophomore point guard Simon Wheeler excelling in a larger-than-expected role, and the team's outstanding post players, Maceo Williams and Victor Searls, also helping to pick up the slack.
The Eagles have also been boosted by the play of transfers, as Toledo transfer Cooper Davis has provided a lift for Ashland since becoming eligible in the second semester, and JuCo transfer Trevell Adams has been steady starting in place of Haraway.
Ashland has a dynamic offense that ranks third in the G-MAC at 78.9 points per game, one that has made them a serious contender. Key to the stretch run is tightening up a defense that's been smothering at points but also inconsistent, especially in the Eagles' six losses.
Ashland is coached by John Ellenwood, who became the program's all-time winningest coach earlier this season and has a long track record of success, including four NCAA DII Tournament appearances, two division titles and two conference tournament titles in 15 seasons.
Scouting the Chargers
The Hillsdale College Chargers have held their own in a brutal and stacked G-MAC race, staying in the mix for the conference tournament and entering the stretch run with an 9-6 G-MAC record. With a long road trip behind it, Hillsdale now returns home to play two of the top teams in the G-MAC and will have a chance to decide its own fate over the next three weeks of contests.
While this season does mark a new beginning for Hillsdale, there's plenty of continuity with the program's recent successes and the foundation built over the past two decades. Before taking the head job this past spring, Bradley spent three seasons as Hillsdale's associate head coach, helping guide the program to a 2020-21 G-MAC title, three 20-plus win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sweet 16 appearances, and a 2022 NCAA DII Midwest Regional title and Elite Eight appearance. His background makes him very familiar with the Chargers program and how to keep things rolling.
And while Hillsdale bid farewell to four starters this offseason, several important players return for Bradley in the 2023-24 season, led by the lone starting holdover, junior Joe Reuter, who earned second-team All-G-MAC honors while averaging 12.5 points and six rebounds per game for a 23-win Chargers squad in 2022-23. While Reuter has had a role to play for the Chargers since his first day on campus, this season will be a big chance for the junior to take on a key leadership role with the squad as an upperclassman.
Along with Reuter, Hillsdale also brings back a trio of important substitutes from 2022-23 who look poised to compete for starting roles. Guards Charles Woodhams, a redshirt junior, and Ashton Janowski, a true sophomore, were big in moments off the bench for Hillsdale last season and should see their roles increase in 2023-24, while fellow guards Samuel Vasiu and Cole McWhinnie should take on bigger roles as well.
In the paint, Radisevic could step in as the Chargers' post presence after serving as the first big man off the bench in last year's rotation. Redshirt sophomore Walt Mattingly should also see a bigger role, as will redshirt freshmen C.J. Yarian and Garrett Bolte, who will both see their first collegiate action this season.
Hillsdale should also get some quality minutes from a five-player freshman class. Guards Logan Beaston and Mikey McCollum were both proficient scorers at the high school level and could bring some offensive punch, while Caleb Glaser and Connor Stonebraker will get a chance to break into the lineup in the post as well.
A young Chargers squad is looking to keep alive a string of six consecutive seasons with 19 or more wins, a stretch that includes four NCAA Tournament appearances and two G-MAC titles despite tough competition from a league that is rising rapidly in talent and accolades.
Matchup History
- While Cedarville is currently tied for the G-MAC lead, it's Hillsdale who has dominated the series between the two teams, with a 15-2 record all-time against the Yellow Jackets. Cedarville snapped a four-game Chargers winning streak and recorded their second win against Hillsdale in a 68-56 victory at home on Jan. 27, but will be looking for their first ever road win against the Chargers this Thursday.
- The all-time series between Hillsdale and Ashland is a virtual dead heat, with Hillsdale holding a narrow 24-23 lead. The Chargers will be looking to snap a losing streak to the Eagles this Saturday, as Ashland won both regular-season meetings and a G-MAC Tournament game against Hillsdale in 2022-23.
Other Notes
- The Chargers were picked to finish sixth in the G-MAC Preseason Poll released in late October. Defending G-MAC Tournament Champion Ashland was picked to win the league, and 2022-23 regular season champion Walsh was picked to finish second. Since joining the league in 2017-18, Hillsdale has never finished worse than third in the final G-MAC standings.
- Hillsdale is looking to continue an impressive run of recent success over the last six seasons that includes two G-MAC Championships, four 20-plus win campaigns, four NCAA DII Tournament berths, two Sweet 16 appearances, and a Midwest Regional title and Elite Eight appearance in 2021-22. The Chargers have had 21 or more wins in each of the last three seasons, and made an unprecedented three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
- Hillsdale's lone graduating senior, Samuel Vasiu, will be honored before Saturday's contest against Ashland. Vasiu is having the best season of his career for the Chargers in 2023-24, and in particular, he's made a huge impact for Hillsdale at the defensive end. Through 22 games, he's tied for tenth among all G-MAC players with an impressive 1.3 steals per game.
- While Hillsdale graduated four starters and three All-G-MAC players from last season's 23 win team, the Chargers do have significant returning talent, led by junior Joe Reuter. The G-MAC Freshman of the Year in 2021-22 and a second team All-G-MAC honoree in 2022-23, Reuter averaged 12.5 points and six rebounds per game last year as a key player for Hillsdale, and is having an excellent year this season, averaging over 16 points and six rebounds in 22 games this season, and setting a career high with 30 points in an 89-71 win over Lake Erie on Saturday, Feb. 10. With a young squad in 2023-24, the Chargers will lean heavily on his experience and leadership.
- Junior Charles Woodhams made an impact off the bench for the Chargers last season, with six double digit scoring games and a season-high of 18 points against Cedarville on Dec. 1. Now in the starting lineup for the Chargers, he's starting to put up those big numbers on a nightly basis. The Otsego, Michigan native is averaging 13.1 points per game and scored a career high 26 points in a tight victory over Lake Erie to open conference play on Nov. 30.
- Redshirt freshman CJ Yarian put together a special performance in his debut for the Chargers, recording 15 rebounds and eight assists in Hillsdale's 71-65 victory over Wayne State on Friday, Nov. 10. It's the most combined rebounds and assists in a single game by a Charger since Matt Mlynarchek put up 16 rebounds and seven assists against Mercyhurst on Jan. 20, 2003, over 20 years ago. The younger brother of three-time All-G-MAC player Austen Yarian, CJ figures to be an important part of the rotation for the Chargers in 2023-24.
- The Chargers clamped down in a historic way on opponent Tiffin in a 73-35 road win on Thursday, Feb. 1. The 35 points given up by Hillsdale in that contest are the fewest conceded by a Charger squad since a 65-31 win over U of M Dearborn on Nov. 11, 2011, over a decade ago. Hillsdale's all-time record for fewest points conceded in a contest is 5 in a 12-5 pre-shot clock era win over Saginaw Valley State in 1981.
- A consistent theme in the Chargers' success over the last six seasons has been excellent 3-point defense. Through 20 games, Hillsdale once again ranks among the leaders in opponent 3-point percentage in both the G-MAC and nationally, with the Chargers' mark of 29.9% ranking first in the G-MAC and tied for 12th in the nation among all NCAA DII teams. That's helped Hillsdale hold opponents to 64.2 points per game, second in the G-MAC and ninth in the nation as well.