UNIVERSITY CENTER - Looking to bounce-back from a loss on Saturday to the #22 ranked team in the country, the Saginaw Valley State University did it in a big way in a Monday (Feb. 2) evening matchup with Hillsdale College. Despite trailing almost the entire first half and even with 2:08 left in the contest, the Cardinals came through clutch and posted a 59-56 victory over the Chargers at SVSU's James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena.
The home team held a pair of brief one-point leads early in the first frame, the last coming on a layup from sophomore C.J. Turnage at the 17:12 mark with the score 5-4.
The Chargers would take control from there, scoring the next five and building a 13-point advantage on the heels of a 9-0 run that was capped-off with a layup to make the score 24-11 with 8:08 to play in the half.
Back-to-back triples from sophomore Caleb Davis and junior Mitchell Baenziger cut the deficit to seven points (24-17) at the 7:18 marker and a later jumper from junior Damon Bozeman would give the game its first tie at 27-27 with 1:48 until halftime.
The Chargers hit a triple to grab a three-point edge, but another Bozeman jump shot made the score 30-29 in Hillsdale's favor, which is what the halftime score would read.
Bozeman had 10 first half points for SVSU while junior Kellen Smith added six assists and three rebounds. Davis netted six first half points as well.
The third straight bucket from Bozeman at the 18:42 marker of the second half gave the home team its first lead since the 17:12 mark of the first half, making the score 31-30. The lead would build to four points (34-30) after a jumper from sophomore Garrett Hall and a Bozeman free throw.
In the game that featured seven ties and 11 lead changes, six of the ties came in the second half and seven of the lead changes.
Down by four points (47-43) at the 8:05 marker, the Cards responded with 10 consecutive points to grab their largest lead of the ball game of six points. The final eight points of that run came from Turnage, giving SVSU its largest advantage of the game.
Hillsdale's Kyle Cooper, the leading scorer in the GLIAC, responded to that run by scoring the game's next seven points to give the visitors a one-point edge at 54-53 with 3:02 left to play.
A Charger score in-between a pair of SVSU buckets by Bozeman and Turnage had the Cardinals up a single point at 57-56 with 1:53 on the clock.
There would be no more scoring until there was just 19 ticks left on the clock and Smith went to the line for Saginaw Valley. He made just the second of his two freebies, putting his team ahead by a pair at 58-56.
With a chance to tie it or take the lead, Cooper attempted a fade-away three from the corner in front of his own bench and the shot drew nothing and was rebounded by Bozeman.
Having to foul, the Chargers put him on the line for two attempts.
Bozeman missed the first and made the second, making the score 59-56 with just 1.8 seconds showing on the clock.
Hillsdale launched a baseball pass downcourt and, after a tip back, Michael Furlong had a great look for three at the top of the key. The shot was on, but bounced off the front of the rim and the Cardinals sealed the three-point victory (59-56) as time expired and the horn sounded.
Smith was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" after posting seven boards, six assists, three points and a steal.
Bozeman had a team-high 16 points with four rebounds, three steals and an assist. Turnage added 12 points with five boards, a steal and an assist.
The Cardinals worked hard on the glass, grabbing 32 boards compared to just 22 for the visitors. SVSU had 10 offensive rebounds and allowed just two for the Chargers. That factor allowed 11 second chance points for SV while Hillsdale had none.
Saginaw Valley improves to 17-4 overall and 13-2 in the GLIAC while Hillsdale falls to 10-9 and 8-7 in league play. The Cardinals return to O'Neill Arena on Thursday (Feb. 5) against the Lake Superior State University (18-3, 13-2 GLIAC). The Cardinals won the teams' prior matchup this season, posting an 81-76 comeback victory over the Lakers on January 15th in Sault Ste. Marie.
