With seconds left in overtime and a 74-71 Charger lead, an Ashland University player dribbled at the top of the key looking for an opportunity to shoot. He settled at the left point outside the 3-point line and went up for the game-tying shot.
But sophomore forward Tim Dezelski was there to block the shot, which was caught by senior point guard Tyler Gerber, who ran the remaining time off the clock by tossing the ball down the court and denying the Eagles another last shot opportunity.
“It feels unreal right now,” Dezelski said. “This was huge for us to build momentum and work towards winning this tournament on our home court.”
The Hillsdale College men’s basketball team will face Michigan Technological University in the semifinal round of the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Chargers will host the remainder of the tournament.
The Chargers were led down the stretch by the inside scoring of Dezelski and junior center Nick Washburn. Both were the primary targets of the Hillsdale offensive game plan down the stretch to take advantage of the Eagle’s smaller interior defense.
“It seemed like everything that they shot fell in the second half,” senior point guard Tyler Gerber said. “But we managed to execute offensively and defensively down the stretch and into overtime – and we were able to exploit the size advantage that Tim had.”
In overtime, the Chargers managed to slow down the Eagles’ scoring. Ashland missed five straight shots after the four-minute mark while Hillsdale chipped away at the lead.
“We just managed to make big stops down the stretch,” senior forward Brent Eaton said.
Dezelski hit the go-ahead layup with 2:15 to play in overtime to make it 72-71, and Washburn added an insurance basket with 1:23 to play on an assist from Dezelski.
The Eagles shot an impressive 55 percent for the game, including 7 of 10 three-pointers in the second half, but fell short in overtime, making only one of six shots.
The Charger defense forced 14 turnovers, against only five given up by Hillsdale’s offense, which kept Hillsdale in the game despite shooting a lower percentage. The Chargers were led in scoring by Guinane’s 16 points, Washburn’s 15, and Gerber and Dezelski with 12 apiece.
Throughout the game, both teams played scrappy, physical defense. The officiating in the game caused heated complaints from the Ashland bench, and boos from the Hillsdale student section expressed the Chargers’ equal displeasure.
Also last night, Northwood University fell to Wayne State 84-77, Grand Valley State University lost 72-66 against No. 2 seed the University of Findlay, and Ferris State University bowed out against Michigan Tech, 71-59.
Semifinals of the tournament continue this Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m., and wrap up with the championship game on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Saturday’s matchup against Michigan Tech will be the second matchup of the year against the Huskies. Hillsdale dominated Michigan Tech on Jan. 28 at home, winning the matchup 91-69. However, since that game the Huskies have won six of eight, including a win over Ferris State. The Chargers will seek to remain undefeated at home with a win against the No. 4 seed.
Yesterday’s matchup in the GLIAC will be key towards determining whether the Chargers earn an NCAA berth. The Chargers rose to second in the updated Midwest Regional rankings released last week. Findlay was the only other GLIAC school in the top 7, while Wayne State and Ferris State slotted in at No. 9 and No. 10. A victory in the GLIAC tournament would lock up an NCAA spot, but Hillsdale could still possibly make it into the tournament with a loss this weekend. Of course, the team wants to leave nothing to chance.
“This win was great to get the monkey off our back from last year’s loss,” Eaton said. “Now we just have to take it one game at a time this weekend, and try to win the tournament outright.”
