Team Effort Produces OAC Victory

Westerville, Ohio – December 2, 2009 – Thirteen players reached the scoring column to help lead the Heidelberg University men’s basketball team to a 74-59 victory over host Otterbein College tonight, December 2, in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both institutions.
 
The team effort helped to extend Heidelberg’s winning streak to four games and improve its overall record to 4-2. The Cardinals fall to 0-5 on the year with the setback.
 
Heidelberg’s used an 8-0 run midway through the first half to take a 25-17 advantage. Otterbein battled back to within one on two occasions, but the Berg kept the Cardinals at bay and held a 34-31 lead heading into the locker room.
 
In the second half Otterbein came out and took a 37-36 lead just over two minutes into the half, but  Heidelberg’s Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) knotted the game following converting 1-of-2 from the line. Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Reigel) had a block on the defensive end and returned to give Heidelberg a two-point advantage with a lay up.
 
Otterbein threatened once again, pulling within a point on two occasions, but Heidelberg would not relinquish its lead.    
 
For the game, Heidelberg shot better than 50 percent from the field for the second-straight outing, finishing at a season-best 54.9 percent (28-of-51). Otterbein finished shooting 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field.  The Cardinals held a slim 38-25 advantage on the glass.
 
Leading the way for the Berg was Kinn with 12 points and five rebounds. Coming off the bench and finishing with nine points, four rebounds and three blocks wasNate Davis (Dayton, Ohio / Stivers). Josh Calver (Shelby, Ohio / Shelby) had eight points, four assists and four rebounds. Smalley added eight points and three rebounds.
 
Tallying six points apiece was Dane Givner (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Harvest Preparatory), Andy Emrhein (Seven Hills, Ohio / Padua Franciscan), Kourea Hayes (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Belleville) and John Miller (Millersburg, Ohio / West Holmes). Emrhein and Miller each hauled in four boards and dished out two assists apiece.
 
Also reaching the scoring column in the win was Pat Barrett (Lakewood, Ohio / Lakewood), Kyle Tuley (Berea, Ohio / Berea), Zane Wildermuth (Botkins, Ohio / Botkins), Derrick Flynn (Cleveland, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) and Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron).
 
Otterbein’s Cory Ratai led two in double figures with a game-high 19 points and rounded out a double-double with 13 rebounds.