GALLATIN, Tenn. -- Despite yet another double-double from Eric Panning, the Heidelberg University Men's Basketball team dropped their first game at the Music City Classic in the Greater Nashville area. Central College picked up a 76-68 victory over the Student Princes. 

Panning finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds -- notching his 10th double-double of the season. Tre Watkins (14 points) and Brady Bosma (11 points) were the others in double figures for HU. 

The Student Princes slipped to 7-3 overall while Central improved to 9-2. 

A technical foul issued to the Dutch head coach ignited a 10-0 run that gave Heidelberg a 23-12 advantage with 8:59 left in the first half. Central charged back quickly and took a 33-31 lead two minutes before the break. In the final minute, Panning hit a layup that gave HU a 36-35 lead at halftime. 

Opening with a 10-2 run, Heidelberg inflated their lead to nine over the first 2:30 of the second half. As they did in the first half, the Dutch responded in convincing fashion. A 14-0 run gave them a five-point lead with 14:30 left.  

The teams wrestled for momentum of the tightly-officiated affair. Under eight to play, Watkins hit a 3-pointer and Panning split a pair from the line -- tying the game at 58 with 6:38 remaining.  

From there, Central took total control with a 9-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back dunks from Kaleb Brand. Brand finished with 23. Joshua Van Gorp had 26 points and 17 rebounds.  

Central dominated the paint, outscoring HU by 10 points and finishing with a 13-4 edge in blocked shots.  

Heidelberg looks to rebound on Saturday in their second game at the Music City Classic. HU will face Alfred at 4 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. CT.