Men's basketball to host OAC Tournament Championship against Heidelberg

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The OAC Men's Basketball Tournament Champion will be crowned in The Rike Center. After a pair of thrilling wins on Thursday, the No. 2 seed Otterbein Cardinals will host the No. 5 seed Heidelberg Student Princes in the 2026 OAC Tournament Championship.

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Otterbein won both regular season matchups over the Berg, a 71-60 decision in December and then holding on for an 85-83 victory in Tiffin in mid-February. Julian Heckman and Micah Germany each poured in 18 points in the home win, while a 20-point effort from Jarius Jones staved off a Student Prince comeback on the road.

SCOUTING OTTERBEIN (22-4, 13-3): Reece Huber's dramatic putback with 1.5 seconds left in the Semifinal contest vaulted Otterbein into the championship game. All players that saw minutes in Thursday's game scored at least two points, while Huber added a team-best eight rebounds.

The Cardinals boast All-OAC selections Julian Heckman, Jarius Jones and Troy Scowden, as well as the Freshman of the Year in Dominic Theado. Andy Winters was named the Co-Coach of the Year in the OAC, leading Otterbein to its winningest season since 2001-02.

SCOUTING HEIDELBERG (15-12, 7-9): The road warriors of the tournament, the Berg punched its ticket to the championship game after knocking off Muskingum and Mount Union earlier in the week. Dominating No. 4 seed Muskingum from start to finish, five players notched double-digit scoring performances, led by a 25-point night from junior Jarveil Gainey. Two days later, the Berg went to No. 1 seed and No. 8 nationally ranked Mount Union to defeat the Purple Raiders, 84-82. All-OAC honorees Markell Johnson-Nichols and Marcos Vazquez combined for 43 points to earn a spot in the title game.

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Players Mentioned

#33 Micah Germany: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#13 Julian Heckman: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#23 Reece Huber: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#1 Jarius Jones: G; 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior

#20 Troy Scowden: C; 6' 7"; Senior

#21 Dominic Theado: F; 6' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#33 Micah Germany
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Julian Heckman
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#23 Reece Huber
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#1 Jarius Jones
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#20 Troy Scowden
: 6' 7"; Senior
: C

#21 Dominic Theado
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: F