Junior Tommy Morgan scores against the Wolverines Nov. 9.

Ashley Van Hoose | Hillsdale Athletic Department

 

Four Chargers scored double digits as the Hillsdale men’s basketball team opened its season with a 107-62 win against the University of Michigan-Dearborn Nov. 9 at home in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.

Junior guard Tommy Morgan led with 27 points, followed by sophomore guard Braylon Morris with 22, senior forward Connor Stonebraker with 17, and fifth-year forward Garrett Bolte with 10.

The Chargers went on an early 16-point run only two minutes into the first half to make the score 20-5 at the 15-minute mark. They continued to add to their lead, reaching a 25-point lead 10 minutes into the game. By the half, the Chargers had a 64-27 lead over the Wolverines and were commanding the floor with 26 points in the paint and 15 second-chance points. The team shot 40% from the three-point line in the first half.

“The win is a great start to our season,” Morris said. “Getting a big win like that sets the tone early and gets the ball rolling in a positive way. It allows us to learn and grow from the mistakes and positive moments from the game which will help us prepare for our next game Friday.”

The Chargers kept their momentum in the second half, maintaining a lead of over 30 points for the remainder of the game. They out-rebounded the Wolverines 49-24 and shot 60% for their second half field goals. 

Head coach Keven Bradley commended his team’s performance.

“I thought our guys did a fantastic job defensively, especially in the first half, which gave us opportunities to get out in transition and play in the open court,” Bradley said. “They also did a great job sharing the basketball, finding each other, and then capitalizing by making some great plays and knocking down shots.”

The Chargers reached triple digits for the first time since 2020. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Morris said the team’s goal is always to win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and make the national tournament. 

“We have created goals for each game to help place us in the best situation to win the games,” Morris said. “If we achieve said goals, we have a very high chance of coming out with a win. So staying grounded in those goals game by game effectively allows us to reach our long-term goals of winning the G-MAC and making a run in the national tournament.”

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Chargers will face Grand Valley State University at 7 p.m. in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.

Morgan said he is excited for the season and upcoming games with his teammates.

“It felt awesome to be out there with my team again,” Morgan said. “We have a lot of returners which is fun and it is also great to get on the court with my new teammates. I’m looking forward to Grand Valley; they are a good team and we are going to take it one day at a time in practice to prepare.”