TIFFIN, Ohio – An upset-minded Otterbein men's basketball team saw another contest go right down to the wire Saturday afternoon, this time on the road against
No. 21-ranked Heidelberg inside Seiberling Gymnasium.
Both sides entered the game with a
combined three losses between them, and the showdown lived up to anticipation en route to a one-possession final. The Cardinals nearly erased a double-digit deficit in the second half before Heidelberg was able to survive by a narrow
75-72 margin.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Student Princes used a 22-6 run early in the first half to open a rather comfortable margin, but the Cards settled in and remained within striking distance approaching halftime…
- A nice 14-3 counter by Otterbein brought the gap back to within just three points, 29-26. Heidelberg responded in the closing minutes before intermission to ultimately carry a 40-33 cushion into the break.
- Otterbein fell behind by 13 points early in the second frame, and still faced the double-digit climb nearing the midway point. However, five quick points from the visiting side made it a two-possession battle down the homestretch.
- The Cards continued implanting a smaller lineup and got within four points on multiple occasions, and then only trailed 73-70 after a triple from Justin Carter with 16 seconds left. Heidelberg made a pair of free throws before a semi-wild final sequence.
- Bryson Lane drove the length of the floor for a layup, and Heidelberg threw an outlet pass to the other end. However, the Student Princes missed a bunny layup and the ball found its way back to Lane again. He took a dribble and hoisted a decent-looking hailmary attempt from beyond halfcourt, which hit the backboard but couldn't draw any iron.
NOTABLE TAKEAWAYS:
- Otterbein landed four players in double figures; Dallas Patrick (17), Cam Evans (15), Carter (11) and Jake Justice (10). Patrick also added a team-high seven rebounds.
- The Cardinals shot exactly 12 of 28 (.429) from the field in both halves. Heidelberg was 48 percent for the game.
- The Student Princes held a 12-1 edge in fast-break scoring and received a combined 32 points from top guns Emmanuel Perdue and Dylan Woods.
- The schools have now split the last six meetings, each winning on their home floor three times. The last road victory (by either team) in the series came in 2016, when Heidelberg prevailed in Westerville.
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Otterbein will stay on the road all of next week, with games scheduled at John Carroll and then nationally-ranked Mount Union.
