TIFFIN – A rough night shooting coupled with a "championship level" performance by John Carroll University led to a disastrous conference opener for the Heidelberg University men's basketball team. The Student Princes shot 33.3% from the floor, 23.5% from beyond the arc and 42.9% from the line in a 92-62 loss on Wednesday.

Marcquice Taylor led HU with a game-high 17 points and added seven rebounds. DeAvery Collins contributed 10 points off the bench.

Four Blue Streaks reached double figures in scoring, led by Doug Caputo's efficient 16-point effort on 8-of-9 shooting. Caputo had a game-high eight boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Through the first third of the opening period, Heidelberg (2-2, 0-1 OAC) and John Carroll (2-1, 1-0 OAC) seemed to match each other shot for shot. With 14:12 remaining, Cole Williams hit a free throw to tie the game at 15.

From there, the Blue Streaks would close the half on dominating 38-13 run that was buoyed by 10 missed 3-point jumpers by Heidelberg. During that same stretch, JCU made eight layups.  At halftime, John Carroll led 53-28.

With the game well in hand, JCU led by as many as 35 in the second half and cruised to victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

John Carroll shot 49.3% from the floor and 42.9% behind the line. At the foul line, the visitors rattled home 72.2% of their free throws.

Aside from the disparity in shooting, the two sides were remarkably close in other statistics. Heidelberg won the battle on the glass 47-45 but lost the turnover battle 17-13.

QUOTES FROM COACH BUCHEIT

Heidelberg's second-year head coach Andy Bucheit on John Carroll's performance: "I thought John Carroll played at a championship level tonight. It was evident that they returned almost everyone from a team that lost in the OAC championship a year ago."

Bucheit on Heidelberg's struggles: "We let a few mistakes snowball on us. A few misses on open looks began to affect our transition defense. We stopped executing the things we've done in practice for the last three days."

Bucheit on moving forward: "We told the guys in the locker room that they need to move on and prepare for the next game. They need to look in the mirror and ask themselves what they can do better."

NEXT UP

Heidelberg returns to action on Saturday. The Student Princes will host Muskingum, with tip-off at 3 p.m.