ALLIANCE, Ohio - Still in search of their first conference win, head coach Anthony Gholson shuffled the starting lineup for the Heidelberg University men's basketball team. Despite the changes, Heidelberg fell short, losing to Mount Union 68-67.
Senior Nate Davis (Dayton/Stivers) finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, his fourth straight double-double. Davis had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but the Purple Raider defense disrupted his shot, which fell short.
Ishaam Smith Jr. (Richmond Heights), who started the first two games of the season, scored a career-high 13 points in his return to the starting five.
Mount Union's Nate Jacubec lead all scorers with 19 points.
Heidelberg (4-4, 0-3 OAC) jumped out to a 14-5 lead, but Mount Union (2-5, 1-1 OAC) answered with an 11-2 run to tie the game midway through the first half.
From that point forward, neither team would lead by more than six points.
Mount Union led 36-35 at halftime.
Down three with just over a minute to play, Davis scored on a layup while being fouled my Matt Kiger. Davis connected on the free throw to tie the game at 67.
Heidelberg shot 73.1% at the line, well above their season average.
On the subsequent possession, Cody Blizzard (Ashtabula/Lakeside) fouled Taylor Moore, who made one of two free throws.
The teamed traded turnovers before Davis missed at the buzzer.
Heidelberg returns to action next Saturday as part of a doubleheader against Marietta at home. The women's game starts at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow.