ALLIANCE -- For the second straight season, the No. 3 seed Heidelberg University men's basketball team bowed out of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament with a semifinal loss at Mount Union.  The No. 2 seed Purple Raiders used a first-half run to take control of the game, winning by 16, 83-67.  

With the loss, the Student Princes (19-7 overall) fall into a large group of schools nationwide hoping to receive one of 20 Pool C "at-large" bids into the NCAA Division III National Tournament.  The men's selection show will air on NCAA.com on Monday, Feb. 27th, at 1 p.m.  

All-conference guard Isaiah Young led Heidelberg with 24 points, four steals and three assists.  

After receiving a bye in the first round of the OAC Tournament on Tuesday, the Purple Raiders showed little rust in the early going -- scoring on their first three possessions and taking a 7-0 lead.  

Undeterred, The Berg regained its footing and enjoyed an 8-0 run over a three minute stretch and led 8-7.  

The teams remained close through the middle part of the first half, with HU tying the contest at 23 shortly after the under-8 media timeout.  Mount Union scored the next 14 points and ended the half on a soul-crushing 20-6 run.  

Down 43-29 at half, Heidelberg was able to cut the deficit down to 10 at one point, but the high-powered Purple Raiders offense withstood the 'Berg run.  The Mount lead ballooned to as many as 23 in the second half.  

The Student Princes, who shot 35.4 percent from beyond the arc coming into the game, only hit 2-of-21 (9.5%) from deep.  

Emmanuel Perdue finished with nine points and Seth Hohman and Eric Panning each added eight.  The OAC Player of the Year Christian Parker led all scorers with 27.  

Mount Union will host No. 4 seed Marietta on Saturday in the championship game.  The Pioneers upset No. 1 seed John Carroll on the road, 79-75.  

Photo courtesy of Bennett Caruso, Mount Union Sports Information