TIFFIN – Heidelberg University men's basketball head coach Andy Bucheit has preached about the importance of ball control all season. His team's defensive identity involves a high-intensity press which looks to create turnovers and easy scoring opportunities. This system was on full display on Saturday evening as Bucheit's Student Princes scored 28 points off of turnovers and walloped the Otterbein Cardinals, 86-65.

THREE STARS

DeAvery Collins had a game-high 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting off the bench.

Marcquice Taylor had 12 points and five assists in 18 minutes of action.

Ben Jones was an early catalyst for Heidelberg, scoring the first six points for the Tricolor. He finished with 11 points.

KEY STATS

Otterbein turned the ball over 26 times in the game, compared to just three for Heidelberg. HU scored 28 points off of turnovers, Otterbein had zero.

Five Student Princes reached double figures, with Jackson Blue and Kiere Bennie joining Collins, Taylor and Jones.  Blue and Bennie each had 10 points. 

Otterbein was held to 1-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

FIRST HALF

Ten Student Princes scored in the first half, which featured a 15-4 Heidelberg run over a span of three minutes late in the period. The Tricolor used 3-pointers from Chris Moxley, James Hanley and Collins to give themselves a sizeable cushion.

In the final seconds of the frame, Marcquice Taylor buried a jumper in the paint to give Heidelberg a 48-31 advantage.

SECOND HALF

Heidelberg kept their foot on the accelerator in the second half, not letting their lead to dip below 10. Leading be 15 with 12:10 remaining, the Student Princes extended their lead to 28 with a 17-4 run. The Student Princes would coast from there.

The scoring for Heidelberg was capped with a 3-pointer by Frank Longhino, who was celebrating his birthday.

QUOTES

Head coach Andy Bucheit on how his team controlled the game: "We were able to affect the game with our pressure.  Our guys were relentless with their defensive effort."

UP NEXT

The Student Princes will welcome Baldwin Wallace to Tiffin on Wednesday. The contest with the Yellow Jackets will tip off at 7:30 P.M.