In its first game coming off the Christmas break, the Hillsdale College men's basketball team looked sharp offensively in a dominant 94-55 win over visiting Grace Christian on Saturday.
The Chargers took full advantage of an edge in size, getting to the rim for 52 points in the paint and 23 second-chance points against the Tigers, while also outrebounding Grace Christian 49-21.
Part of Hillsdale's success in getting to the rim came from excellent passing. The Chargers assisted on a season-high 22 of their 34 made baskets, with four players finishing with three or more assists, led by sophomore Cole McWhinnie's career-high seven. Senior Charles Woodhams also finished with a career-high six assists for the Chargers.
That unselfish play led to five double-figure scorers for Hillsdale on the night, and all 10 players appearing in the contest finishing with four or more points. Woodhams led the way with a 17-point effort that also included four rebounds, and senior Samuel Vasiu knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 15 points and two steals as well.
In the paint, freshman center Caleb Glaser also had the best night of his young career, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds on perfect shooting from the floor, and sophomore CJ Yarian also chipped in a career-high 12 points and six rebounds in the post for Hillsdale. Junior Joe Reuter was Hillsdale's fifth double-figure scorers, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Hillsdale got a great lift from the bench in the victory, as the Charger subs helped spark a first-half run that turned a 16-15 game with 10 minutes left in the half into a 44-22 halftime lead and finished the game with 35 total points. Redshirt freshman Garrett Bolte chipped in seven points and a career-high nine rebounds for Hillsdale, and freshman Mikey McCollum added four points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Chargers snap a two-game losing streak with the victory and improve to 8-3 overall with the victory. Hillsdale now heads back into conference play at 3-1 in the G-MAC, with a tough home contest on Thursday, Jan. 4 against G-MAC newcomer Thomas More. It'll be the first-ever meeting between the Chargers and Saints, who at 4-1 in the league are right there with Hillsdale in the thick of the title race at this early juncture.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan