TIFFIN -- Spurred on by the deafening roar of a frenzied crowd inside Seiberling Gymnasium, the Heidelberg University men's basketball team used a game-closing 9-0 run to pick up a much-needed win in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals.  The No. 3 seeded Student Princes beat the No. 6 seed Capital University, 77-65. 

For the second time in three years, The Berg advances to the semifinals of the conference tournament.  HU travels to No. 2 seed Mount Union on Thursday at 7 p.m. 

Freshman Isaiah Young, making his postseason debut, did not shy away from the spotlight.  Young poured in a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists.  

Eric Panning notched his fifth double-double of the season.  The sophomore picked up 10 points and 14 rebounds.  

Tre Watkins and Zane Leitwein combined for seven 3-pointers off the bench.  

Heidelberg (18-6) struggled offensively in the first half, shooting a mere 25.8% from the floor. Fortunately, the hosts were buoyed by their ability to get to the line and knock down free throws. The Tricolor was 13-for-14 at the stripe in the half and shot 85% for the game.  

Capital (14-11) led 31-21 with 4:20 left in the first half, but Watkins ignited a 10-2 run to close the half with a triple-hit from the wing.  The Comets led 33-31 at the break.

The Student Princes hit eight 3-pointers in the second half, with each bomb eliciting a roar from the 'Berg faithful.  Heidelberg held a six-point lead with 11:54 left, but Capital went on a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from the corner by Ryan Roth. 

Young answered right away, burying a thank-you-very-much 3-pointer with Roth charging hard.  Energized by the fans, Young intercepted a perimeter pass on the ensuing possession and coasted ahead for an easy layup.  The outburst by the Akron native gave HU a lead it would not relinquish.  

A 3-pointer by Dylan Woods gave Heidelberg a 68-58 advantage with 3:01 left -- but the Comets crusaded back into the game with a 7-0 run over the next 92 seconds.  Alex Eyink hit two foul shots to make it a 68-65 game.  

Capital needed a stop.  It didn't get one. 

A drive and kick by Woods led to an open look for Leitwein from the wing. The anticipatory silence of the fans while the ball was midflight was quickly replaced by an eruption of yells as the 3-pointer from Leitwein spun through the cylinder.  

The triple put HU up six with 1:17 left.  

Two fast-break layups by The Berg in the final minute served as welcomed punctuation for the much-needed victory.  

Not only was the victory a survive-and-advance win in the OAC Tournament, the triumph likely kept the Student Princes in the hunt for the NCAA Tournament as well. 

Mount Union dismantled No. 10 seed John Carroll, 93-65, to advance to the semifinals.  The Purple Raiders, now ranked No. 8 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, split their regular season matchups with Heidelberg.