WESTERVILLE -- A frigid first half proved costly for the Heidelberg University men's basketball team in a 62-57 loss at Otterbein University.  The Student Princes scored 18 points in the first half -- their lowest output in the opening period since the first game of the 2017-18 season against Augustana.  

The Berg (7-10, 5-5 OAC)  hit just 5-of-21 attempts from beyond the arc and was outrebounded 36-26.  HU had no second-chance points on the day.  

In the loss, Tamal Watkins had 17 points and seven rebounds and Dylan Woods added 11 points.  

Emmanuel Perdue made a bucket with 11:46 to play in the first half, cutting a modest Cardinal lead down to two at 10-8.  Then both teams went ice cold.

For a full six minutes.  

With 5:45 to play, Curt Jacobs drilled a 3-pointer, giving HU the lead and giving the Rike Center scoreboard operator a much-needed jolt.  

In the waning moments of the half, Mo Beavers and Woods traded 3-pointers as the teams headed to the locker room deadlocked at 18.  

Offensive fouls hurt Heidelberg in the second half as Otterbein built an eight-point advantage with 10 minutes to play. 

The Cardinals (6-11, 3-7 OAC) led by 11 with six minutes remaining before Heidelberg surged back.  A three-point play by Perdue came as part of a 13-6 run that brought HU back to within four with 90 seconds left.  

In desperate need of a stop, HU got a miss by Nick Koontz, but Dallas Patrick was there for a put-back bucket that seemingly dashed the hopes of a comeback.  

Beavers scored 17 points and Patrick had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Heidelberg is back in action on Wednesday, on the road at Baldwin Wallace.