Box Score
WESTERVILLE, OHIO – The Otterbein University men’s basketball team suffered a 65-60 setback at the hands of visiting Heidelberg University (11-13, 9-8 OAC) in Ohio Athletic Conference action Wednesday in the Rike Center.
The victory snaps a four-game losing streak for the Student Princes, and drops the Cardinals to 12-12 on the season and 8-9 in league play.
Otterbein is now locked into the sixth spot for the upcoming OAC Tournament, and will travel to take on third-seeded Capital University next week. The teams split during the regular season.
The Berg’ started strong, jumping out to a 17-9 lead after nearly seven minutes of action. Otterbein scored four of the next five points to get within 18-13, but Heidelberg bumped its lead to double-digits by the 9:55 mark and eventually took a 39-29 lead into halftime.
Heidelberg sprinted to a 47-32 lead just four minutes into the second half, but the Cardinals began a steady climb back and would pull within five, at 52-47, after two free-throws from Mark Louks with 10:39 remaining.
The Student Princes pushed the margin back to 59-48 with 7:32 showing on the game clock, but refusing to go away, Otterbein clawed back again and trailed just 59-55 after an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman Max Van Meter.
A free-throw from junior Brice Rausch cut the deficit to 59-58 with 3:39 to play, but Heidelberg clung to the lead and remained on top at 63-60 with one minute to play.
Two misfires at the line for Heidelberg would give the Cards a chance with under 20 seconds to play, but Otterbein would come up empty en route to the defeat.
Junior Chris Davis tallied game-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds for an Otterbein team that never led in the contest. Van Meter scored 11 while Louks chipped in ten off the bench.
Nate Davis led four players in double figures for Heidelberg, which shot .404 from the field and won the rebounding battle 41-29.
Otterbein shot just 2-of-10 from three-point range but managed to make 24-of-29 from the charity stripe.
The Cardinals conclude their regular season Saturday afternoon, traveling to take on Wilmington College. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
