Preview: Chargers ready for first-place showdown with ranked rival Findlay

Schedule
#5/8 Findlay (16-1, 9-0 G-MAC) at #24 Hillsdale (15-3, 9-1 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
Follow/Watch
Live Stats, Video and Tickets
 
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Findlay Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Findlay Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
Projected Starters
Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, Jr, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (10.8 ppg, 2.6 apg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Sr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.3 apg); #30 Logan Beaston, rFr., G, Tiffin, OH/Columbian (7.7 ppg, 2 rpg); #33 Joe Reuter, Sr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (12.4 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg); #35 Eric Radisevic, Sr., F, Brookfield, WI/Central (7.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
 
Findlay: #1 Will Aljancic, So., F, Louisville, OH/Louisville (16.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg); #10 Jagger Landers, Jr., F, Antwerp, OH/Antwerp (11.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg); #12 Anthony Johnson, So., G, Kettering, OH/Fairmont (8.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.1 spg); #14 Josh Thorbahn, Sr., G, Ottoville, OH/Ottoville (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg); #33 Jake Bishop, So., G, Findlay, OH/Findlay (9.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 spg)

 

Scouting the Opposition

Findlay: Saturday brings another huge moment in the Hillsdale-Findlay rivalry, as the two programs meet in a contest with significant G-MAC title implications.

After back-to-back disappointing seasons with no postseason appearance, Findlay is fully back among the DII elite with a top 10 ranking in both polls and a 16-1 start marred only by a loss to fellow top 10 Ferris State.

The Oilers have embraced an up-tempo style that includes an 11-man rotation and extremely balanced scoring. Athletic sophomore forwards Will Aljancic and Jagger Landers are the primary weapons, but the pair gets plenty of support, including from hometown hero Jake Bishop, sixth-man Ian Ioppolo and veterans Anthony Johnson and Mason Brandt.

Findlay has been excellent both offensively and defensively, with their 19-point scoring margin among the nation’s best.

Undefeated in G-MAC play, the Oilers could put a stranglehold on the G-MAC lead with a victory over the Chargers, but if they fall, Hillsdale would move into a tie for first, and put pressure on Findlay to defend home court later in the season.

          

Scouting the Chargers

Two more blowout victories last week have Hillsdale gaining separation on the rest of the G-MAC, as the Chargers, along with fellow conference unbeaten Findlay, now have a two-game edge on the other 10 teams in the standings.

Despite a young squad with only one returning starter in 2023-24, the Hillsdale College men’s basketball team put together a solid campaign, winning 18 games and keeping a streak of seven straight top four G-MAC finishes intact.

Now, as the calendar turns from the 2024-25 season, last year’s young squad at Hillsdale becomes one of the most veteran teams in the G-MAC, and a serious contender for the G-MAC crown and a potential return trip to the NCAA Tournament after a year’s absence.

Entering this winter, the Chargers go from returning only one starter to returning four of five starters, and 11 of 13 players that appeared in at least one game in the 2023-24 season. Leading the way is senior forward Joe Reuter, a two-time All-G-MAC selection who’s entering his third year as a starter and one of just three first-team All-G-MAC players from a year ago who are back for the 2024-25 season.

Reuter led Hillsdale in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks last season and should be one of the top players in the conference. He’ll be flanked by two more returning double-digit scorers in guards Charles Woodhams, a fifth-year senior, and Ashton Janowski, a junior. Both players came into their own last season as starters and scoring threats and give Hillsdale great toughness and continuity up front.

An area where the Chargers are hoping for major improvement is in the paint. Starting center CJ Yarian returns after a solid first season on the court for Hillsdale, while fellow sophomores Caleb Glaser and Garrett Bolte gained great experience off the bench and will look to continue growing as sophomores. The unit will get a big boost from a healthy Eric Radisevic, who contributed last year but was limited for much of the season by injuries. Now entering 2024-25 fully recovered, Radisevic could make a big impact for the Chargers, who lacked offensive punch from the center position at points in 2023-24 and could jump to another level as a team with better production down low.

Two players who could see their role grow as Hillsdale looks to replace the graduated Samuel Vasiu are sharpshooting sophomore Mikey McCollum and junior point guard Cole McWhinnie, both of whom excelled in substitute roles in 2023-24 and who will compete for more minutes this season.

Additionally, don’t count out two players coming off their redshirt years this season. Guard Logan Beaston and post Connor Stonebraker are both skilled offensive players and have the talent to carve out roles of their own on an experienced squad, while further bolstering the Chargers’ depth.

Head coach Keven Bradley returns for his second season at the helm after a solid first season, and brings back assistant Evan Morrissey for a second year, while adding Michigan native Travis Schuba to the coaching staff for this campaign as well.

 

Matchup History

• A nearby school and arch-nemesis of Hillsdale’s since both teams’ days in the GLIAC, Findlay has been a difficult challenge for Hillsdale for years, with a 58-14 edge all-time in a series dating back to the 1984-85 season. That said, there’s been a shift since both teams joined the G-MAC in 2017, as six of Hillsdale’s 14 wins against the Oilers have come in that stretch, and the two programs are 5-5 against each other since 2019-20. That includes a split last year, with Findlay winning 73-69 at home and the Chargers taking an 82-65 victory in Hillsdale.

 
Other Notes

• The Chargers were picked to finish second in the G-MAC Preseason Poll released in late October, with four first place votes. Defending champion Kentucky Wesleyan was picked to repeat, while defending G-MAC Tournament champion Walsh was picked to finish third. Since joining the league in 2017-18, Hillsdale has never finished lower than third in the final standings. Currently, Hillsdale is second in the G-MAC standings, a game behind Findlay, their opponent this Saturday, and a game ahead of Kentucky Wesleyan.
• Hillsdale remains in the national rankings in both the coaches and media polls this week, sitting at 24^th in the nation in the coaches poll and receiving votes in the nation in the media poll after a 15-4 start. This is the ninth straight week the Chargers have been nationally ranked. Hillsdale is one of five teams in the Midwest Region ranked or receiving votes in the NABC Coaches Poll, including G-MAC foe Findlay (5^th), Ferris St. (8^th), Missouri S&T (9^th), Lake Superior St. (14^th).
• Hillsdale returns four starters from last year’s squad, headlined by returning All-G-MAC honoree Joe Reuter. The senior forward is a third-year starter and a two-time All-Conference player who also was named G-MAC Freshman of the Year for the 2021-22 season. Along with high scoring guards Ashton Janowski and Charles Woodhams, Reuter has been a key piece for Hillsdale so far, averaging 12 points per game while ranking fifth in the G-MAC in rebounds per game (7.3), 10^th in assists per game (3.1), eighth in blocked shots per game (0.8) third in steals per game (1.6) and sixth in free throw percentage (.803). Reuter also is working his way up the all-time lists statistically at Hillsdale, as his 1,242 career points rank 25^th all time, and he surpassed the 500-rebound milestone earlier this season.
• Charles Woodhams has been Hillsdale’s leading scorer in 2024-25, and a consistent source of production for the Chargers. He has double-figure scoring in 16 of Hillsdale’s 18 games, including a 26-point outing that proved critical in a win at Ashland on Jan. 2. His efficiency for a guard offensively has been off the charts, coming close to the 50-40-90 bar that represents the peak of shooting brilliance with 51.1% on field goals, 43.2% on 3-pointers, and 77.6% on free throws.
• Sophomore Mikey McCollum has been a huge asset for the Chargers off the bench, keeping Hillsdale’s second unit humming at a high level offensively even without the starters on the floor. McCollum is averaging 11.9 points per game, third most on the team, thanks to 34 made 3-pointers and a strong performance at the foul line.  Freshman Logan Beaston has been prolific from deep as well, with a team-leading 36 made 3-pointers in his first collegiate campaign.
• The Chargers are playing at a high level so far at both ends of the floor, averaging 77.6 points per game offensively, and ranking first in the G-MAC and ninth in the nation in scoring defense at 63.4 points per game. Hillsdale’s 14-points-per-game scoring margin on opponents currently ranks 13th in NCAA DII.
• Hillsdale is known for its excellent 3-point defense, and last year’s team was the best the Chargers have had at it since the 3-point line was introduced. Teams shot just 29.3% from deep on Hillsdale last season, the lowest among G-MAC squads and in the top 10 nationally. So far, through 18 games, Hillsdale has gone even lower, conceding just 27.9% from beyond the arc, which ranks first in the G-MAC by a significant margin and fifth in NCAA DII so far.
• Another facet of Hillsdale’s excellent defense is its ability to control the defensive glass. The Chargers concede a G-MAC best 29.4 rebounds per game to opponents, seventh fewest at the NCAA DII level. The Chargers are also among league leaders in blocked shots this year, averaging three per game with 11 of 13 players who’ve seen the court recording at least one block for the Chargers.
• Hillsdale prioritizes taking care of the basketball and passing to set up quality shots, and that’s reflected in the team’s strong assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.53, the 19^th best mark nationally. That emphasis has helped the Chargers become one of the more efficient offensive teams in conference play, ranking third in the G-MAC in field goal percentage (48.8%), third in 3-point percentage (37.1%), and third in free throw percentage (75.4%).