Chargers fall 67-55 to Indiana University (Pennsylvania)

Home Charger Men's Basketball Chargers fall 67-55 to Indiana University (Pennsylvania)
Chargers fall 67-55 to Indiana University (Pennsylvania)

EVANSVILLE, IND- The Hillsdale College men’s basketball team fell to the No. 2 ranked Indiana University (Pennsylvania) 67-55 Tuesday, March 22 at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN, ending the Chargers furthest run in program history. 

For the first time in program history, the Chargers made it to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, beating University of Missouri-St. Louis to earn the program’s first NCAA regional title. After the final eight teams were seeded, the Chargers were given the 7th seed, set to face No. 2 IUP

The Crimson Hawks, who haven’t lost since January 26th, stifled the Chargers offensively, holding them to just 35.8% from the floor and 13.8% from three. 

“Their ball pressure really took some of our timing away,” Head Coach John Tharp said. “We did have some looks but they were crowding Pat and we missed some opportunities, but the ball pressure was really the key to their defense.”

The Chargers started slow, trailing 15-5 at the 12 minute mark, but they battled back, going on a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to three points, 24-21. The Chargers closed the half only down three points, 30-27. 

To start the second half, IUP went on a 10-2 run, led mostly by junior guard Dave Morris, who ended with 21 points on 50% from distance. 

Junior forward Patrick Cartier, recently named one of the 25 finalists for the Bevo Francis award for the best non-DI men’s basketball player, led the Chargers with 18 points on 7-10 shooting with five rebounds. 

“In a couple weeks we’ll be able to look back and be proud of what we’ve done but obviously tonight was tough, shots weren’t falling for us,” Cartier said. 

Fifth-year senior forward Austen Yarian finished with six points, seven rebounds, and four assists in his final game in a Chargers uniform.

“It’s been a wild ride,” Yarian said. “Obviously it’s had its ups and downs but that’s any college kid. I’ve played well sometimes and played poorly sometimes but Roundy’s always had my back. That’s one thing I love about him, it’s never turning the other cheek toward me, he’s stuck with me and I’ll appreciate that for the rest of my life.”

Both Yarian and fellow fifth-year senior Tavon Brown, staples of Hillsdale Charger basketball, have now ended their careers with Hillsdale. 

“As a coach, people want to define success as wins and losses and that’s part of the profession, but I couldn’t be more proud of the man that Tavon Brown is and the man that he is continuing to be,” Tharp said. “Same thing with Austen, Austen has grown quite a bit from where he was. They’re getting degrees from what we think is the best DII institution in America and that’s the most important thing.”

IUP freshman forward Tomiwa Sulaiman posted a double double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while guarding Cartier on most of the possessions. 

“I thought Sulaiman played exceptionally well,” Tharp said. “I think he does a lot of the dirty-work, not in a dirty way, but just all the little things that help them win games, he does a great job of that.”

Junior guard Jack Gohlke was the second leading scorer for the Chargers with 10 points, while junior guards Kyle Goessler and Cole Nau both had 6 points. 

“You have to take your hat off to IUP. I thought they played extremely well,” Tharp said. “It’s hard to get to this level, to be in the Elite Eight. We play a certain style, with 30 ACTs you have to play a certain style, and we weren’t very good at our style today.”

Tharp, the winningest coach in Hillsdale history, said everyone talks about the destination and the journey, but he said he believes it’s more about the people you’re surrounded with. 

“We’ve won a lot of games, had some great players, some All-Americans, but I’m telling you the guys really, truly care about each other and love each other,” Tharp said. “In my 15 years, we’ve had one player that’s left the program. We are a program that’s based on culture and based on family, and that’s what we’ll always be.”