Three Heidelberg University seniors ended their careers in Seiberling Gymnasium with a victory and berth into the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. A 60-54 win over the Cardinals of Otterbein University propelled the Heidelberg men into the OAC Tournament as the seventh seed.
Seniors Nate Davis (Dayton/Stivers), Quintin Aden Jr. (West Chester/Harvest Prep) and Dane Givner (Pittsburgh, PA./Harvest Prep) ended their Heidelberg career’s on a high note.
Givner led all scorers, dropping 20 points in the win. Givner also collected five rebounds, two steals and three assists. With his 20 this afternoon, Givner is currently eighth on the all-time scorers list with 1,381 career points.
Davis tallied eight points and five rebounds against the Cardinals. Davis, who already holds the Heidelberg all-time blocked shots record, collected two blocks against Otterbein, along with a team leading three steals.
Quintin Aden Jr. did not see action against the Cardinals due to injury.
Freshman Josh Pollner (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) led the Berg bench with 11 points, while hauling in five rebounds, and grabbing two steals.
The Berg took their largest lead of the first half (12) at the 6:44 mark with a Givner layup.
The Cardinals managed to cut the Berg lead to six with five seconds on the clock with a pair of free throws, but a Pollner three-pointer as time expired gave the Student Princes a nine point advantage heading into the locker room. The score read 29-20 at the half.
Otterbein roared out of the locker room, taking the lead at the 14:34 mark in the second half, 34-33.
The Berg would maintain their composure and regain the lead again at the 10:49 mark with a jumper from Frank Longhino (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and extend their lead to three with an electrifying dunk by Pollner just 0:27 later.
The relentless Cardinals battled back to steal the lead from the Berg at the 5:19 mark and again with 3:54 left to play in regulation.
The contest looked to be headed into overtime as the Student Princes and Cardinals reached a tie with 2:24 remaining in the game.
However, the Student Princes and fifth year head coach Anthony Gholson had no intention of letting the game reach overtime. The Student Princes led a 9-3 run to close out the final two minutes of regulation.
With the victory, the Heidelberg men move to 11-14 on the year and 6-12 in the OAC. They enter the OAC Tournament as the seventh seed, as Otterbein with the loss enters as the eighth seed.
The Ohio Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament will begin on Monday, February 18 as the Student Princes battle the sixth seeded Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University. Tip off from Ada, Ohio is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.