ADA – A 3-pointer by James Hanley at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime in Ada on Wednesday rimmed in and out for the Heidelberg University men's basketball team on Wednesday as they fell to Ohio Northern 77-74. The Student Princes trailed by 16 at halftime but rallied all the way back and even took the lead late in the game, but the Polar Bears held on late as HU's last-second attempt just missed.

With the loss, Heidelberg fell to 11-11 (6-9 OAC) while Ohio Northern improved to 10-12 (7-8 OAC)

KEY STATS

Despite being the top free throw shooting team in the conference entering the game, Heidelberg managed just 47.4% (9-19) from the line in the game while ONU shot 83.3% (25-30) from the charity stripe to seal the win.

Five different Student Princes scored in double figures, led by Chris Moxley's 17 points.

Ohio Northern's Aron Thress had a career night, scoring 25 points, including 15-for-17 shooting from the free throw line, while also pulling down 18 rebounds for the double-double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Heidelberg did get off to a good start, taking an early 6-2 lead after a layup by Jackson Blue with 17:46 to play.

After the two teams battled back and forth for a bit, the Polar Bears started to slowly build a lead, starting with a 3-pointer from Joey Diorio at the 10:29 mark, making it a 19-16 deficit for the Berg.

The Polar Bears were able to stretch that lead to 10 (31-21) before Heidelberg cut it to seven (31-24) after a free throw by Myron Prewitt with 4:00 to play. Ohio Northern would then end the half on a 9-0 run to make it a 40-24 deficit for HU at halftime.

Heidelberg opened up the second half on a bit of a run, as four 3-pointers, including three by Moxley, made it just a 49-40 lead for ONU with 17:04 remaining.

The Student Princes continued to battle as the half wore on as they rallied all the way back to tie the game at 57 after a jumper by Prewitt with just under 10 minutes to play.

The game turned into a dogfight down the stretch, as both sides traded baskets as the lead went back and forth before ONU was able to get a few defensive stops with under a minute to go, burying free throws to take a six point lead with 24 seconds left.

With six seconds to play, Marcquice Taylor drove to the basket and scored with the foul, completing the three point play to make it a three point game (77-74). Off of the inbounds for ONU, Heidelberg trapped the ball-handler in the corner and forced a turnover, as the ball was pushed out to Hanley for an open look for a 3-pointer from straight on. His shot looked to be going in, but it rimmed in and out as the Student Princes fell by a final score of 77-74.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Heidelberg forced Ohio Northern into 19 turnovers in the game, which is the second-most this season committed in a game by the Polar Bears.

Marcquice Taylor netted a season-high 14 points for the Student Princes off the bench in the defeat.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg will return home on Saturday for their final home game of the season as they host No. 23 Mount Union (15-6, 11-3 OAC) on Senior Day. That game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. in Seiberling Gymnasium.