HILLSDALE, Mich.-- The Lake Erie College men's basketball team took a three-game winning streak into Hillsdale, Mich. Thursday night (Jan. 23) but were unable to leave with a victory, falling to the Chargers, 66-48, in Great Lakes Intercollegaite Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. 

Hillsdale jumped out to a 9-0 lead early on before the Storm got on the board. The Chargers defense continued to pressure the Storm, holding them to just eight points in the first 13 minutes, taking a 39-22 lead into the break. 

Garrick Sims (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) led the Storm with eight first-half points while Sean Howard (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) netted six off the bench. The Storm was held to just nine-of-29 (31%) in the first-half while the Chargers hit 15-of-28 (53.6%). 

The Storm started the second-half on a 9-2 run to bring the score within 10 points, 41-31. The Storm kept within ten until the Chargers went on a 6-0 lead to gain a 16 point advantage. Lake Erie answered with a 5-0 to bring the lead down to 11 but once again but the Chargers went on a 9-0 run to move ahead by 20, putting the game out of hand for the Storm. 

Sims led the Storm with 13 points and eight rebounds. Riley Thomas (Cardington, Ohio/Cardington-Lincoln) was held to just 11 points. Howard ended the game with eight points. Andy Bosley (Columbus, Ohio/Orange) had two blocks and five rebounds to go with his seven points. Tom Parker (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius) assisted on three baskets. 

The Storm shot just 33.3% (19-of-57) from the floor. They matched that percentage on three-point attempts, hitting eight-of-24.

Tim Dezelski led Hillsdale with 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Brandon Pritzl (12), Kyle Cooper (11) and Anthony Manno (11) also scored in double-figures for the Chargers. 

The Chargers hit 26-of-50 (52%) shots from the floor but shot just 30.4% (7-of-23) from beyond the three-point line. 

Hillsdale owned a 32-17 advantage in rebounds. The Storm were once again positive in turnovers, committing 14 while forcing 15. 

The Lake Erie bench outscored their Charger counterparts 12-3.

The Storm is back in action Saturday (Jan. 25) at the University of Findlay for a GLIAC contest.

-LEC-