COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's men's basketball team used a strong first half to down Hillsdale 77-64 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon in Alumni Hall.

The Panthers opened the first half shooting 6-of-8 from the floor en route to a 17-8 lead with 14:45 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. Hasan Varence (Queens, New York) led the stretch scoring 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Just three minutes later, with 10:40 remaining in the half, ODU held a 28-13 lead after a pair of three's from Ethan Haynes (Florence, Ky.) and Sam Hickey (Toledo, Ohio) along with a pair of jumpers from Michael Scott (Hebron, Ky.).

Through the first 10 minutes of action, the Panthers shot 67% (10-for-15) from the floor and were 75% (6-for-8) from behind the arc.

After the Chargers cut their deficit to nine at 28-19 with 8:38 to play in the first half, the Panthers would go on a 13-4 run to open up an 18-point lead after Haynes third three of the opening session. A Scott jumper with 27 seconds remaining in the half opened ODU's largest lead of the opening frame at 50-28 before a Hillsdale three before the half sent the teams to the locker room with the Panthers leading 50-31.

ODU shot a blazing 61% (19-for-31) in the first half including 10-for-16 (62.5%) from behind the arc. The Panther defense held the Chargers to just 43% shooting (13-for-30) ad 11% (1-for-9) from three in the opening 20 minutes.

 The Panthers opened their largest lead of the contest on another Ethan Haynes three to make the score 67-41 with 11:10 to play and the Chargers finished the contest outscoring the Panthers 23-10.

ODU had four players in double figures led by Varence scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds while Hickey finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Haynes came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points on five made three's while also grabbing five rebounds and having two blocked shots. Matt King (Mason, Ohio) was the final Panther in double figures scoring 13 points and grabbing five rebounds. Michael Scott once again led the Panthers with six assists while scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds.

The Panther offense shot 51.7% from the floor (31-for-60) and 48% (13-for-27) from behind the arc while the ODU defense held Hillsdale to just 42.4% shooting (25-for-59) which included 26.9% (7-for-26) from behind the arc.

The Panthers have now won three in a row to start 2020 and are 7-9 overall and 4-3 in the conference while Hillsdale suffers its first loss in G-MAC play and sit 9-6 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

ODU hits the road once again to take on Lake Erie on Thursday, January 16 with tip set for 5:30 p.m. in the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic and Wellness Center.