Eau Claire, Wis. – December 30, 2009 – Four players scored in double figures to help lead the Heidelberg University men’s basketball team to a 68-67 victory over Coe College in the consolation game of the 2009 Holiday Classic hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The win improves Heidelberg to 8-4 on the year, while Coe falls to 2-9.
It was a back and forth battle that saw neither team lead by more than nine points and the contest was tied 10 times.
Coe held a nine point lead, 53-44, with 10:21 left in the game, but the Berg battled back to tie Coe on two occasions. Adrian Casey Jr. (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain Admiral King) had a lay up with 2:30 to play to give the lead to the Berg for good.
Coe threatened and tied the contest twice over the final two minutes, but the Berg never let go of its lead and connected on three free throws, while holding Coe to just a field goal. Coe had an opportunity with less than 10 seconds to play, inbounding the ball on its end, but the Berg defense stepped up and forced a turnover to seal the win.
In the first half, Heidelberg led by as many as eight points midway through the period. With the score knotted at 28-28 as time was expiring in the half, Heidelberg’s Josh Calver (Shelby, Ohio / Shelby) hit a trey to give the Berg a 31-28 lead at the intermission.
Leading the way in the scoring column for the Berg was Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) with 12 points. Backing Smalley with 10 points apiece was Calver, Nate Davis (Dayton, Ohio / Stivers) and John Miller (Millersburg, Ohio / West Holmes). Casey had six rebounds and six points, while Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel) contributed eight points and five rebounds.