TIFFIN -- Playing as a team for a full 40 minutes, the Heidelberg University men's basketball team overpowered visiting Defiance College, 75-56, to close out the calendar year.  The Student Princes dominated on the glass and outscored the Yellow Jackets 22-9 in points off turnovers.

Heidelberg improved to 3-7 on the season while Defiance slipped to 7-3.  

Off the bench, Alex Arellano led all scorers with 15 points.  Seth Hohman hustled his way to 13 points and seven rebounds.  

After playing a back-and-forth contest for the games first 8:24, Heidelberg broke a tied score with 10:40 remaining in the first half on a Seth Hohman jumper and never looked back, eventually building a lead by as many as 23 late in the second half. 

The 27-19 run to end the first half proved to be the huge momentum boost The Berg needed heading into the intermission. After a technical free throw by Tamal Watkins, the run ended on a buzzer beater from Dylan Woods.  Woods made a push down the floor with the seconds ticking away and knocked down a contested 3-pointer from the wing as time expired, energizing the squad into halftime. 

A temporary slow start to the second half seemed to drain that momentum, but HU picked up right where they left off as the team put together a dominant second half of basketball and outscored the Yellow Jackets by 11 to emerge with the 19 point win. 

In those second 20 minutes of play, the Student Princes took care of their work offensively as they connected on 42% of their shots from the floor and were perfect from the free throw line, while Defiance managed a modest 35% success rate shooting the ball. Putting in the work defensively as well in the second half, Heidelberg swiped five steals, led by three from Phariz Watkins. 

In all, both teams shot 39% on the night, but the Student Princes connected on 28 field goals compared to Defiance's 21. Rebounding, HU dominated the glass pulling down 45 boards, 13 more than the visitors. Heidelberg had 17 offensive rebounds while Defiance managed a mere six.

For Defiance, Tyler Andrew scored 14 points and Marell Jordan added 13. 

Heidelberg will welcome the New Year with a home men's / women's doubleheader as they return to OAC play vs. Mount Union on Saturday, January 4th. The women will tip at 1 p.m. and the men will follow at 3 p.m.