TIFFIN -- Backed by 19 points from sophomore Myron Prewitt, the Heidelberg University men's basketball team defeated Otterbein, 71-61 on Saturday afternoon. The win extends HU's win streak to three games.

Three Student Princes finished in double-figures. Prewitt had a game-high 19 points going 8 of 10 from the floor. Prewitt's clutch three-point play with 49 seconds remaining helped seal the win for the Tricolor.

The lone senior on the HU roster DeAvery Collins added 13 points, while Kiere Bennie chipped in with 12 points.

Heidelberg improves to 9-10, 5-7 in conference play. The Cards slip to 7-12, 3-9 OAC.

The Cardinals got out to a quick 14-6 start thanks to the three ball and transition buckets. Their lead was short-lived as sophomore Andrew Grothouse ignited a 12-0 run for HU with a triple from the corner.

Bennie's three-point play cut the deficit to 14-12 midway through the first half. A jumper and a layup by Prewitt gave the Student Princes a two-point advantage. The run was capped with a Collins runner with 8:48 to play in the first half -- giving HU an 18-14 lead.

A three-point play by Otterbein's Bryan Mackenzie ended the Heidelberg run and cut the score to 18-17.

Collins gave the home team a six-point lead with 6:43 until halftime. The senior hit a triple from the wing, pushing the Berg lead to 23-17.

With less than a minute before the half, Prewitt hit a 3-pointer for a 34-26 Heidelberg lead. Mackenzie sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the half for a 34-28 score at the break.

The Student Princes scored 20 of their 34 first half points in the paint.

Heidelberg opened the second half with a 12-0 run that spanned the first four minutes, pushing their lead to 18 points. Bennie and Prewitt contributed 3-pointers during the run for a 46-28 Berg advantage.

Otterbein answered right away, putting together a 14-0 run of their own to cut the score to 46-42 with 10:43 remaining. A three-point play by Nick Koontz finished off the Cardinal run and nearly erased the Heidelberg lead.

Michael Davis found CJ Marshall in transition with 6:26 to play. Marshall made the layup and was fouled going up for a chance at a three-point play. The sophomore drained the free throw and gave the home team a 10-point advantage.

With 1:12 remaining and HU up by six point, Mackenzie completed a three-point play for the Cards. After the free throw the Heidelberg lead had dwindled to three points.

Prewitt answered at the other end with his electrifying and-one. The play pushed Heidelberg's lead back to six points with less than a minute to play.

Collins, Bennie, and Prince Benson all hit free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the HU victory.

NOTES & QUOTES

HU shot 47% from the floor (26 of 55) in the win. Senior Mike Mason tallied five blocks in the contest.

Matt Hughes paced Otterbein with 17 points and seven rebounds. Mackenzie added 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

"We had some guys step up at the very ended when we needed them," said head coach Andy Bucheit. "Our bench gave us some good minutes down the stretch and our good free throw shooters were able to knock down some big shots at the end."

Bucheit on the play of Prewitt: "It was great to see him have a game like he did tonight ... He really stepped up for us and made plays when it counted."

Prewitt on his clutch three-point play: "I knew at that moment it was important for us to score ... I was just trying to do what I could to help us get the win."

UP NEXT

Heidelberg travels to Capital University (10-9, 5-7) on Wednesday. Game time in Bexley is slated for 7 p.m.