TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University men’s basketball team will close its 2011-12 regular season schedule with a three-game home stand beginning Saturday, Feb. 11 when it hosts Marietta College in an Ohio Athletic Conference game at Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin, Ohio. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.
Live stats for the game will be available at http://www.heidelberg.edu/statcrew/mbb/xlive.htm.
The Berg enters Saturday’s contest in a three-way tie for eighth place in the OAC standings. A ‘Berg win and losses by the University of Mount Union against Ohio Northern University and Otterbein University at Muskingum University would move the ‘Berg into sole possession of eighth place. The top eight teams earn a berth in the OAC tournament.
Heidelberg (6-16, 4-11 OAC) is looking to snap a five-game losing slide following a 64-55 loss Wednesday at ONU. Junior honorable mention All-OAC forward Nate Davis (Dayton/Stivers) recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while junior second-team All-OAC guard Dane Givner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Harvest Prep) scored a team-high 12 points and sophomore forward Victor Fortkamp (St. Henry) added nine points and six rebounds.
Fourth-year head coach Anthony Gholson will likely start junior guard Quintin Aden (Canal Winchester/Harvest Prep) and Givner in the backcourt and freshman Bryan Crawford (Delaware/Buckeye Valley), Davis and Fortkamp on the blocks. Givner leads the Tri-Color scoring attack, averaging 13.0 points per game. He tallies 4.7 rebounds per game and is tied for fifth in the OAC with 66 assists. Fortkamp averages 11.1 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and shoots 52.8 (93-of-176) percent from the field, good for fourth in the OAC. Davis nearly averages a double-double with 11.0 ppg. and 8.8 rpg., ranking third in the league, is sixth with a 51.5 (88-of-171) shooting percentage and leads the circuit with 45 blocks. Aden scores 5.6 ppg. and shoots 44.1 (45-of-102) percent from the field. Crawford scores 2.9 ppg. and averages 1.8 rpg.
The Student Princes score 69.3 ppg., are second in the OAC by averaging 37.9 rpg. and shoot 42.7 percent overall. They are also first in the OAC with 4.1 blocks per game.
Marietta (15-7, 10-5 OAC) has won six of its last seven games and currently sits in a three-way tie for second place in the league. In their last game, the Pioneers took a 67-55 decision at Mount Union. Kevin Knab posted his second straight double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while J.J. Martin came added 13 points and five caroms.
Fourth-year head coach Jon VanderWal will likely start guards Tyler Hammond, Trevor Halter, Joe Puch and Martin in the back court, and Knab in the middle. Knab is third in the OAC in scoring (16.9 ppg.), eighth in rebounding (6.0 rpg.), second with a 53.9 (127-of-214) shooting percentage, fourth with an 80.1 (117-of-146) free throw percentage and sixth with 16 blocks. Hammond scores 9.0 ppg., shoots 41.5 (68-of-164) from the field and is ninth with a 75.4 (46-of-61) free throw percentage and has passed for 66 assists to tie Givner for fifth in the league. Halter tallies 7.6 ppg. and shoots 41.5 (22-of-53) percent overall. In 10 games this season, Martin averages 9.2 ppg. and 6.5 rpg. Puch tallies 4.1 ppg. and 3.2 rpg.
The Pioneers are second in the OAC in scoring (73.9 ppg.), shoot 44.2 percent overall and are second in free throw shooting (72.4). Marietta also grabs 35.9 rpg. and is fourth in the league with 147 three pointers.
Marietta is 7-3 in the series’ last 10 games, including winning the last three, but Heidelberg is 3-1 against the Pioneers in Tiffin since 2007. Five of the last 10 match-ups have been decided by seven points or less. In the last game between the two teams, a 99-78 Marietta win on Jan. 7 in Marietta, Givner scored a then-season-high 21 points on seven-of-14 shooting and passed for five assists. Fortkamp and Davis recorded 14 points and 10 points, respectively. Four Pioneers scored in double figures, led by Jacob Owens’ 21 points on a seven-of-eight shooting performance. Halter scored 12 points, Hammond added 11 and Tyler Worstell tallied 10 as Marietta shot a blistering 52.4 (11-of-21) percent from three point range and 57.1 (36-of-63) percent overall.
Following Saturday’s contest, the Berg will open the final week of regular season play Wednesday, Feb. 15 by hosting Otterbein at 7:30 p.m. before hosting the Mount Union on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Probable Starters: Marietta (15-7, 10-5 OAC)
Name—GP-GS—Key Stats
Trevor Halter—8-2—7.6 ppg., 41.5 FG%
Tyler Hammond—22-22—9.0 ppg., 41.5 FG%, 75.4 FT%, 66 ast., 26 stl.
J.J. Martin—10-1—9.2 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 44.2 FG%, 76.5 FT%
Joe Puch—22-22—4.1 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 39 ast.
Kevin Knab—22-22—16.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 59.3 FG%, 80.1 FT%
Probable Starters: Heidelberg (6-16, 4-11 OAC)
Name—GP-GS—Key Stats
Quintin Aden—22-9—5.6 ppg., 44.1 FG%, 30 ast.
Dane Givner—22-22— 13.0 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 66 ast., 26 stl.
Victor Fortkamp—22-22— 11.1 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 52.8 FG%, 72.6 FT%
Bryan Crawford—17-8— 2.9 ppg., 1.8 rpg.
Nate Davis—22-22— 11.0 ppg., 8.8 rpg., 51.5 FG%, 45 blk.