The men’s basketball team opened up their season with a 63-60 loss to Aquinas College on Tuesday as the clock ran out on the Chargers’ offense.
The game was close, as the Chargers led 31-30 at half-time and were caught in a 53-53 deadlock going into the final four minutes.
Junior Drew Powell contributed 3 points from the foul line, along with a crucial lay-up from senior John Hamood that kept the Chargers within one point of the Saints, putting the score at 60-61 with 14 seconds left on the clock.
The Aquinas defense held the Chargers scoreless the rest of the game, denying senior Cory Coe a three- point buzzer shot, as opposing guard Mike Blicher’s two foul shots clinched the win for the Saints in the last few moments.
Powell, the only Charger to reach double- digits, led the team with 20 points, and sophomores Tim Homan and Tony Gugino both contributed nine.
“All five starters are back, but we are a lot deeper than we were last year.” Senior Cory Coe said. “We have a ten person rotation instead of a seven or eight person rotation this year. We can wear the other team out.”
In comparison with the last three years, Coe said that he feels this years team is more focused. He said that they have their hopes set on winning 20 games this season, and are anticipating a chance to win the GLIAC Championship, a feat Hillsdale has not achieved for the past five years.
Hillsdale’s three preseason exhibition games proved satisfactory for the Chargers as they came out 2-1, which included a respectable showing against elite Division I, University of Cincinnati in a 99-71 loss to the Bearcats on Nov. 3.
“We played very well,” said head coach Ed Douma in response to the Cincinnati game. “I am pleased with our progress. We have a very competitive team, and if we continue to progress like this we will be able to compete for the South Championship.”
Hillsdale led for a small portion of the game by as much as four points, but eventually gave way to the energetic Bearcats as the Chargers trailed 49-40 at half time, and never reclaimed the lead.
Homan led the Chargers with 18 points.
On Nov. 8 the men’s team picked up a preseason win against Albion College, winning 75-58 at Jesse Philips Arena. Albion led 33-31 going into the second half, but Charger momentum propelled them past the Albion defense, outscoring the opposition 44-25 in the last twenty minutes.
Four Chargers hit double digits: Coe led the team with 20 points, Powell finished with 15, Homan scored 12 and junior Jason Weaver added 10.
The competition got tough Nov. 14, when the Chargers played their last preseason game against University of Detroit- Mercy and suffered a severe upset, losing 74-70 in overtime. The score was tied 32-32 at half time before Hillsdale broke away, leading by as much as 11 points at one time. It didn’t last long as U-D Mercy caught up in the final moments, and tied the game 64-64 at the buzzer.
”Coe led the Chargers with 24 points overall, and Homan followed with 17.
The Chargers play their second regular season game at home next Tuesday at 7:30.