TIFFIN -- Despite a career-high 12 points from freshman Josh Pollner (Powell/Olentangy Liberty), Heidelberg University men's basketball fell to Ohio Northern 76-68 on Wednesday. Box Score | Season Stats
Pollner's points came on a perfect 6-6 from the field. Classmate Ishaam Smith Jr. (Richmond Heights) led Heidelberg (9-12, 4-10 OAC) with 14 points.
Ohio Northern (10-11, 6-8 OAC) opened the game on a 12-4 run before the Student Princes responded with an 11-2 run to take the lead. The remainder of the half was back and forth, with eight lead changes. Branden Rushton hit two free throws, part of a string of 19 in a row to start the game for the Polar Bears, to give ONU a one point lead at the half.
In the second half, Ohio Northern opened up a lead once again. Rushton hit a jumper with 17:11 left to push the ONU lead to 9 at 40-31.
Heidelberg was able to trim the lead down to five on two separate occasions, but turnovers and woes at the foul line spelled trouble for the Student Princes. Heidelberg had 19 turnovers and shot 6-of-14 from the line. By comparison, Ohio Northern had seven turnovers and were 20-of-21 from the stripe.
By the middle of the half, Ohio Northern led by 13 points. Heidelberg couldn't cut the deficit to less than 10 until Dane Givner (Harvest Prep/Pittsburgh, PA) hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left, which made the score 75-66.
Givner finished with 13 points.
Dominque Royal scored 20 for ONU, while Rushton and Jared Horstman each added 17.
Heidelberg will look to snap a seven-game skid on the road at Muskingum on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.