TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University men’s basketball team will continue its road swing Saturday, Jan. 14 when it travels to Alliance, Ohio for an Ohio Athletic Conference game with the University of Mount Union at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in its third of four consecutive contests away from Tiffin. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
Live stats for the game will be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/mountunion/ and live audio will be available at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/muc.portal#.
The Berg (5-9, 3-4 OAC) has won two of their last three games, including a 76-60 triumph over Otterbein University on Wednesday. Five Student Princes scored in double figures, led by junior second-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference guard Dane Givner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Harvest Prep), who tallied 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Junior guard Quintin Aden (Canal Winchester/Harvest Prep) scored 14 points, sophomore guard Lee Renner (Gibsonburg) had a career-high 11, and sophomore forward Victor Fortkamp (St. Henry) and sophomore guard Mike Petrie (Columbus/Beechcroft) each scored 10. Heidelberg recorded season-highs of 56.4 percent (31-of-55) shooting, 50.0 percent (nine-of-18) three point shooting and 18 assists while committing just 10 turnovers.
Givner will lead the Berg into Alliance averaging 12.8 points per game and he has passed for a team-high 46 assists, fifth in the OAC. “YouTube” sensation Nate Davis (Dayton/Stivers), whose thunderous tip-in dunk was featured last month on ESPN’s SportsCenter’s Top-10 plays of the day (Dec. 17), averages 10.6 ppg., is third in the league with 8.4 rebounds per game, fourth with a 57.6 (57-of-99) shooting percentage, and leads the OAC with 31 blocks. Fortkamp, who tallies 11.3 ppg., is fifth in the OAC with a 57.8 (63-of-109) shooting percentage and eighth at the free throw line, shooting 76.9 percent (30-of-39). The Student Princes average 72.8 ppg., good for fourth in the league, are second with 38.3 rebounds per game and shoot 45.2 percent from the field.
Mount Union (6-8, 2-5 OAC) has won two straight games and three of its last four, including Wednesday’s 49-47 edging of Baldwin-Wallace College. Stevie Griffin scored a game-high 14 points and made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Jimmy Wood and Nate Jacubec added 13 points and 10 points, respectively. Wood leads the OAC in scoring (19.9 ppg.), is seventh in rebounding (6.1 rpg.), and fourth in three point percentage (43.2). The Purple Raiders average 68.4 ppg. and 34.8 rpg., shoot 41.6 percent from the field, including the OAC’s second-highest three point percentage (35.3), and 71.4 percent from the free throw line.
Despite losing the last two games in the series, the Berg is 6-4 in the series’ last 10 meetings, including 3-2 in Alliance. Mount Union swept the season series in 2010-11, winning 79-73 in Tiffin (Jan. 15) and 74-67 in Alliance (Feb. 19). Givner averaged 18.5 ppg. and 5.0 rpg. and was 13-of-23 shooting against the Purple Raiders last season. Wood tallied 18.0 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. in two outings against Heidelberg.
Following Saturday’s game, the Student Princes will close their four-game road swing Wednesday, Jan. 18 at John Carroll University at 7:30 p.m.