TIFFIN -- For the fourth straight year, the Heidelberg University Men's Basketball is moving on to the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. The No. 3 seed Student Princes took down No. 6 Ohio Northern University, 75-67, on Tuesday night.
Heidelberg will travel to No. 2 Mount Union on Thursday, squaring off with the Purple Raiders in the semis for the sixth time in seven years.
It wasn't easy for The Berg against the red-hot Polar Bears, who had reeled off three straight wins to earn the tournament berth. Each time HU opened up a double-digit lead, ONU responded quickly. Heidelberg held an 11-point lead with less than a minute remaining in the first half, but an ONU 3-pointer, a bad turnover, and fast-break layup before the horn cut the lead to five.
An 8-0 spurt, boosted by several uncharacteristic 'Berg turnovers, turned a seven-point hole into a 55-54 lead for the Polar Bears with 9:04 left in the game. The Tricolor answered with a modest 7-2 run to take a two-possession lead over the next 2:30.
With 2:46 left, HU led by six, 67-61. No strangers to the back-against-the-wall feeling, ONU responded with a 3-pointer by Will Miller and a layup by Theo Maag.
Up one with 90 seconds left,
Manny Hill hit the biggest shot of the game -- drilling a 3-pointer from the corner. Ahead by four, the HU defense forced a shot-clock violation on the ensuing ONU possession, forcing the Polar Bears into a foul-and-pray mentality.
Fortunately for the frenzied 'Berg fans,
Markell Johnson-Nichols sank for free throws in the final minute and helped stave off an ONU comeback.
Hill had a game-high 19 points and was one of four in double figures for Heidelberg.
Elijah Harden had a silky 16 points and Johnson-Nichols tallied 15.
Eric Panning finished with 10 points and 14 boards, notching his 10th double-double of the season and 40th for his career -- tying Chris Reichert for most in program history. Panning inched closer to the 1,000 rebound milestone, currently resting at 995.
On the other side of the OAC Tournament bracket, No. 1 John Carroll will host No. 4 Muskingum.
