Box Score NORTH CANTON, Ohio - In a battle between two of the top three teams in the G-MAC, the Walsh Cavaliers and the Hillsdale Chargers fought for 40 minutes on Thursday (Jan. 23) night at Alumni Arena.
The Cavaliers created some distance in the final six minutes in a 67-62 win over the Chargers, the ninth straight win for the Cavs. Walsh improved to a league-best 8-1 in the G-MAC and 17-2 overall. The win jumps Walsh to first in the Point Ranking System with 4.28 points.
Hillsdale opened the game with a three pointer one minute in, leading to a game-tying three ball from Christian Montague 19 seconds later. The Chargers regained a 5-3 lead nearly three minutes later but the lead was short-lived once again. Alphonso Baity tied the game with a pair of free throws. Mark Kostelac scored four straight points, opening a 9-5 Walsh lead in the first six minutes. A three pointer and a three-point play put the Chargers back in front 11-9 at the under 12 media timeout. After the timeout, Conner Wess nailed a three ball for a 12-9 Walsh lead. Hillsdale tied the game at 13 but Baity responded in a big way for the Cavs. He scored six straight points on a 6-2 run by the Maroon and Gold. Baity's quick flurry pushed the lead to four, 19-15 with 9:25 left before halftime. Holding onto a 19-18 advantage, Mark Mokros scored five points of a Walsh 7-0 run in 1:38 of game play. The lead grew to 26-18 with 7:18 left. The teams went back and forth over the next six minutes, exchanging baskets. The Chargers used a three pointer in the final 70 seconds, trimming the lead to five. Mokros and Montague made back-to-back three pointers, ending the half on a 6-0 run and taking a 41-30 lead into the intermission.
Caleb Canter began the second half with a dunk and a layup in the opening four minutes, as Walsh had their largest lead of the night, 45-31. Hillsdale chipped away at the lead and used a 19-7 run, tying the game at 52 with 6:26 remaining. An immediate 7-0 run by Walsh put the Cavs back on top, where they would stay for the final 5:53. Kostelac, JT Shumate and Baity all made crucial free throws while Montague used a layup during the rally. The lead was at seven three different times, including this basket by Montague.
Hillsdale made one last run, coming within three points with 27 ticks left on the clock. Montague and Mokros each erased the worry with a pair of free throws. Hillsdale ended the game with a basket as Walsh held on to a 67-62 win at Alumni Arena.
Montague neared career-highs as he finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. He was seven-of-12 from the floor (three-of-six from deep) and four-of-four at the free throw line. Baity added 13 points off the bench, his fifth straight double-digit game, on four field goals and five free throws. Mokros was the third player in double-figures with ten points, including a pair of threes and free throws. Shumate led the Cavaliers with ten rebounds.
Overall, Walsh shot 41.5% (22-53) in the game while making seven three pointers. The Cavaliers shined at the free throw line, going 16-of-18 in the game. 16 free throws was the second-most this season for Walsh.
The Cavaliers will welcome the Findlay Oilers to Alumni Arena on Saturday (Jan. 25) at 3:00 PM. It will be a battle of winning streaks as Findlay has won eight straight and Walsh is on a nine-game tear.
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