Box Score ASHLAND, Ohio – It didn't take long for Hillsdale to use its experience and defensive presence to impose its will on the AU men's basketball team on Thursday (Dec. 1) night. The Chargers led wire-to-wire in a 70-43 win over the Eagles at Kates Gymnasium in the GLIAC opener for both teams.
The Eagles (2-3, 0-1 GLIAC) missed their first four shots in the game, and by the time junior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) made AU's first basket of the game three minutes in, they trailed 9-0.
AU whittled the lead to as little as three, at 14-11, after Yates sank a short jumper, but the Chargers (5-1, 1-0 GLIAC) quickly ran the lead to double digits and never looked back.
Sophomore forward Will Evans (Lexington, Ky./Christian Academy) matched a career high with 11 points to go along with six rebounds. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. Junior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) also had 11 points with three 3-pointers.
Yates finished just shy of a double-double with nine points, a game-high 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Chargers entered the game as the top defensive team in the GLIAC, allowing just 56.8 points per game. They lowered that number against AU, limiting the Eagles to just 28.3 percent shooting.
Hillsdale also returned three seniors who played significant minutes, including preseason All-GLIAC South first-teamers Tyler Gerber and Brad Guinane. Gerber had a game-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including a 3-for-6 mark from 3-point range. He also handed out a game-high six assists. Guinane finished with 11 points and five boards.
The Eagles will host Wayne State on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium.
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