Men's Basketball Opens Season on a High Note

The Heidelberg College men’s basketball team adjusted quickly to the up-tempo style of play of first-year head coach Anthony Gholson and produced a season-opening 77-69 win at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, today, November 15. Today’s game was also the 2008-09 season opener for Pitt-Bradford.
 
Heidelberg trailed the entire contest until a three-pointer from junior Josh Calver (Shelby, Ohio / Shelby) with 7:59 to play in the first half. Its lead, 18-15, was short lived as Pitt-Bradford scored in its next two trips down the floor to regain the lead at 19-18.
 
Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel) converted a three-point play with 6:27 to play in the opening half and gave the Berg the lead that it would never relinquish. Heidelberg extended its lead to as many as seven points and entered the intermission holding a 37-31 advantage.
 
Heidelberg opened the second half with an 8-2 run to push its lead to 12 points, 45-33, just 3:30 into the period. Pitt-Bradford battled back, pulling within six on two occasions, but the Berg would not let them get any closer. Its second half lead swelled back to 12 over the final 3:13 before ending at eight- points, 77-69.
 
Heidelberg shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the field, including a 50.0 percent clip in the first half, while Pitt-Bradford shot 44.4 percent (28-of-63). The Berg connected on six from long range, holding Pitt-Bradford to just six long balls. Pitt-Bradford held a slim 40-39 advantage on the glass.
 
Four players reached double-figures for the Berg led by Kinn with a career-high 18 points. The junior forward also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, to record his first collegiate double-double. Backing Kinn in the scoring column was Calver and Jake Hessey (Crestline, Ohio / Colonel Crawford) with 16 points apiece and Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) with 11.
 
In his first game and start at the Berg, Kyle Tuley (Berea, Ohio / Berea) hauled in seven rebounds, while scoring six points.
 
Zach Moore led the way for Pitt-Bradford with 18 points and nine boards. Aaron Stang added 12 points and four rebounds.
 
Heidelberg returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 18 with Division II Tiffin University. The “Cross-Town Connection” contest is set to tip-off at 8:00 p.m. and is being sponsored Carmie’s Grill and Bar.