‘Berg basketball breaks 96-year-old record in home win
The Heidelberg Men's Basketball team lit up Seiberling Gymnasium Wednesday night, obliterating Capital, 107-59, in a statement victory that left the crowd roaring and the record books rewritten. In a game for the ages, the Student Princes showcased pure dominance from start to finish, breaking a 96-year old record for the largest margin of victory against an OAC opponent.
Heidelberg's starters were unstoppable, with three hitting double digits and one delivering a monster double-double. Eric Panning was a force of nature, racking up 18 points and 10 rebounds on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting. He set the tone early, scoring the first points of the game and electrifying the crowd with a thunderous dunk that pushed the Berg out to an 18-4 lead. Panning didn't just dominate offensively; his defensive work, including four offensive rebounds, was critical to Heidelberg's suffocating control of the boards. He finished with a team-best +43 on the night.
To put it mildly, Elijah Harden was on fire. The sharpshooter poured on a game-high 20 points, torching Capital from beyond the arc with four three-pointers on just six attempts. His precision was contagious, fueling Heidelberg's explosive offense. Manny Hill brought a relentless two-way effort, chipping in 10 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and doling out four assists. The trio of starters made it impossible for Capital to find their footing.
The bench made sure the intensity never dipped. Mason Wisniewski was nothing short of electric, scoring 15 points on a flawless 7-of-7 from the field in just nine minutes. His dunks set off celebrations that might have been measured on the Richter Scale, but definitely resulted in jubilant technical fouls. Brady Bosma added five points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Trent Wininger delivered five points in limited minutes, showing the depth of this Heidelberg squad.
The stats tell the story of utter dominance. Heidelberg controlled the boards, out-rebounding Capital 57-30, and punished them in the paint with 58 points compared to just 26 for the Comets. The Berg's defensive pressure was relentless, forcing 15 turnovers and converting them into 21 points. Meanwhile, the bench poured on 48 points, underscoring the team's remarkable depth.
By halftime, Heidelberg had already built a 54-20 lead—setting a new season high for first-half points—and they never looked back. The second half was more of the same, with Panning hammering home another dunk and Harden drilling dagger threes to leave no doubt.
The 48-point margin of victory surpassed Heidelberg's 69-27 win over Otterbein in the 1928-29 season.
This wasn't just a win; it was a declaration. Heidelberg improved to 12-6 overall and 8-3 in the OAC, The Comets stumbled to 6-12, 3-8 in the OAC.
Heidelberg looks to keep the momentum on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. when they host Otterbein for game two of a doubleheader.