TIFFIN -- The Heidelberg University Men's Basketball team rallied for a heart-stopping 79-78 victory over Otterbein on Alumni Day in Seiberling Gymnasium. The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead late, but an Eric Panning block and a missed 3-pointer resulted in the 'Berg win.  

Heidelberg snapped a two-game skid and improved to 12-7 overall, 8-4 in the conference. Otterbein slipped to 12-7, 6-6.  

With less than 20 seconds to play, the Cardinals trailed 79-78 and had the ball. Out of a timeout, Jack Clement used a screen on the wing to create separation. He drove to the hoop, but his left-handed layup was blocked by Eric Panning, the OAC's leader in that category. Panning corralled the loose ball, but was whistled for traveling as he fell to the floor with 12 seconds to play. 

After a foul on the floor drained six seconds off the clock, Otterbein had 6.1 seconds left. 
Evans took the inbound pass and drew a double team as he cut toward the hoop. He kicked the ball to the corner into the hands of a wide-open Julian Heckman. Heckman, who had a game-high 21 points, left the potential game-winner short. As the final seconds ticked away, Jashun Cobb swatted the ball out of bounds as time expired. After a brief review, the game officials confirmed that time had, in fact, expired, touching off a joyous celebration in Tiffin.

Heidelberg had four players in double figures, with Tre Watkins and Isaiah Young leading with 16 points apiece. Cobb contributed 15 points off the bench and Panning had 14 points.  

Panning delighted the crowd early, stealing a pass on the perimeter, sprinting ahead and slamming it home while being fouled. The three-point play put HU up 8-7 and came as part of a 17-2 run. Heidelberg led with 12:08 left in the half, 19-9.  

The next four Otterbein baskets were from beyond the arc, which helped the visitors close the deficit. The Cardinals took the lead back with a Chase Garito layup at the 1:27 mark.  HU's Jashun Cobb had five points in the final 70 seconds, but a late jumper by Cam Evans tied the game at 35 at the break.  

Otterbein was the aggressor for the first 10 minutes of the second half. With Heidelberg seemingly incapable of getting a stop, the Cardinals pushed out to a 65-57 lead with 9:08 to play.  

Down eight with nine minutes to play, Heidelberg went on a 13-5 game-tying run. Tre Watkins stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for the layup that knotted the game at 70. Over the next two minutes, Heidelberg immediately answered every Otterbein basket. 

Tied at 77 with less than two minutes to play, the Cardinals corralled two offensive boards before drawing a shooting foul. In front of a raucous student section, Troy Scowden missed both attempts. At the other end, Young hit a right-handed floater from 10 feet away, giving HU a 79-77 advantage. Otterbein split a pair at the line on their next possession, setting up the late-game drama. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
At halftime, Heidelberg announced its plans to co-name the court Sayger-Hill Court, adding legendary player and coach John Hill's name alongside Herman Sayger's name … Otterbein coughed the ball up 13 times to Heidelberg's five. The disparity in miscues yielded a 19-5 'Berg edge in points off of turnovers … The Student Princes pulled down 38 rebounds while the Cardinals tallied 32  … Heidelberg held a 19-4 advantage in second-chance points.

UP NEXT
The men will travel to Ohio Northern on Wednesday for a matchup with the Polar Bears. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.