BLUFFTON --  The Heidelberg University men's basketball team fell behind early on the road at Bluffton University and never found a way to catch up, falling by a final score of 68-56. 

With the unfavorable result, the Student Princes slip to 1-3 on the young season, while Bluffton improved to 2-2. 

For Heidelberg, Dylan Woods led the team in scoring with 14 points, while Tamal Watkins had 13 and Coby Kelly chipped in 10. Defensively, Watkins and Alex Arellano led the way with seven rebounds a piece. 

A layup by Tamal Watkins just under three minutes into the first half gave the Student Princes a 4-2 lead -- one which would last just 26 seconds before Aaron Rich's jumper tied it at four. 

On their next possession Bluffton knocked down a three-pointer off the hand of Jameel Cosby, and never looked back as they held onto the lead for the final 35:58 of the game. 

In the first half, the Beavers led by as many as 13, but a scoring run of 11 straight points for Heidelberg got them within a bucket, but was immediately reversed as Heidelberg went cold the remainder of the half. In the run, Josh Dixon, Tamal Watkins, Phariz Watkins, Alex Arellano, and Coby Kelly all contributed baskets. 

At the intermission, Heidelberg trailed by just eight, but the second half they managed to shoot just 23% from the floor, including 1-of-9 on three-point attempts. Many of HU's points did come courtesy of the free throw line as they knocked down 13-of-14 attempts in the game. 

Bluffton's 43% shooting and 10 second-half free throws was plenty to push them over the hump and keep Heidelberg's attempts at a comeback at arm's length. 

All-in-all the hosts shot 44% and were led by Andrew Renner's 24 points. Cosby added 13, Isaiah Taylor contributed 12, and Rich tallied 10 to support the Bluffton offense. The Beavers' Dezman Brown led all players with eight rebounds, but Heidelberg held a slight 37-36 advantage on total boards. 

The Berg will return to Seiberling Gymnasium this Thursday for a 7 p.m. tip against Albion College.