Season Closes in OAC Quarterfinals at JCU

The Heidelberg University men’s basketball team suffered a 78-68 setback to John Carroll University in a quarterfinal game of the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament tonight in University Heights, Ohio.
 
John Carroll, ranked 15th in the nation according to D3hoops.com, is the no. 1 seed of the eight-team tournament and improves to 21-4 overall. Heidelberg entered the night as the no. 8 seed and will close out the year at 8-18. Heidelberg was making its 48th appearance in the OAC Tournament, including its third-straight.
 
In the opening half, Kyle Tuley (Berea, Ohio / Berea) had a put back to give the Berg an early 14-9 advantage with 14:36 on the clock. However, JCU responded with a 7-0 run to overtake the scoreboard, 16-14, two minutes later. Heidelberg’s John Miller (Millersburg, Ohio  / West Homes)quieted the JCU run with an offensive rebound and a layup, but JCU answered on the opposite end and picked up another seven-consecutive points to hold a 23-16 lead just under 10 minutes into the contest.
 
Back-to-back treys from Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) and Chance Farnsworth (Wadsworth, Ohio / Highland) capped an 8-0 ’Berg run and gave the visitors control of the game at 24-23 with 7:28 remaining before halftime.
 
JCU answered with two from the charity stripe and pushed its lead back to seven points, but Smalley added a jumper in the finals seconds of the opening half to cut JCU’s lead to five 37-32, at the intermission.
 
Heidelberg scored first in the second half, but the Blue Streaks came back with a 10-run to build a 47-34 advantage after five minutes. JCU and Heidelberg traded baskets, with the home team keeping the visitors at bay. Down 51-41, Heidelberg went on a 10-2 run to pull within two points, 53-51, with 8:30 left in the contest. Highlighting the run was two treys from Jake Hessey (Crestline, Ohio / Colonel Crawford).
 
Following a timeout, John Carroll scored six-consecutive to hold its largest lead of the game at 12 points, 65-53. Miller answered with a three-pointer to stop the streak and Zane Wildermuth (Botkins, Ohio / Botkins) followed with a free throw to cut Heidelberg’s deficit to eight, 65-57, with 4:16 left on the clock, but that would be as close as the Berg could get.
 
Hessey led the way in scoring for the Berg with 17 points. Tonight marked his final game in a Heidelberg uniform and he closed out his career hitting five from long range. Backing Hessey was Miller and Smalley with 10 apiece. Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel) hauled in a team-best eight boards.
 
Matt Crozier had a team-leading 16 points and seven boards to lead John Carroll.