TIFFIN -- A crucial three-point-play by Phariz Watkins with 29 seconds remaining in the game proved to be the catalyst in an end-to-end game inside Seiberling Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The play saw the Heidelberg University men's basketball team emerge with a narrow 68-67 win over the Ohio Athletic Conference's preseason favorite, Mount Union. 

The Student Princes (4-7, 2-2 OAC) looked rattled after Collen Gurley converted a four-point play and then swished home a 3-pointer to put Mount Union (8-3, 3-1) ahead by two with 1:20 remaining. After the play, HU turned the ball over, looking to be down-and-out. However, the Student Princes benefited from a critical missed field goal from Nathan Bower-Malone. 

Watkins then took matters into his hands and drove to the basket making the layup while being fouled to level the score. On a night that saw The Berg shoot a rather uncharacteristic 67% from the stripe, Watkins knocked down the most crucial free throw make of the night. The play gave Heidelberg the decisive one-point lead. 

Defending their narrow lead, Dylan Woods picked up a timely steal by swiping a Mario Caywood pass with nine seconds remaining before a collective effort of defense swarmed Gurley's desperation 3-point attempt as time expired. 

Just one year ago on December 14, 2018 at Mount Union, a one-point Heidelberg lead was erased by Gurley's sprinting layup at the buzzer that sealed a comeback win for the Purple Raiders. With that play, Gurley had 4.7 seconds on the clock to make his mark. 

In what screamed deja vu for the Student Princes, Mount Union had an inbounds with 4.7 seconds remaining on the clock. This time though, HU stood strong and a swarm of Student Princes converged to force Gurley into a deep, contested 3-pointer that clanked off the back of the rim as the clock ran out, giving the Tricolor the much-needed conference win. 

During the first half, Heidelberg stayed step-for-step with the Purple Raiders dynamic offense. In total, the Student Princes shot a slightly better 42% from the floor, compared to Mount's 37% and converted on six more free throws, giving them a two-point lead at the break. 

Alex Arellano contributed 15 points in the first 20 minutes alone, including 10 straight Heidelberg points over a 2:31 span. 

Even with Arellano's dominance on the offensive end of the floor, none of his baskets ignited the crowd as much as Seth Hohman did just 2:46 into the game. Hohman flashed back to Lebron James' 2013 block on Tiago Splitter in the NBA Finals as he stone-walled a dunk attempt at the rim from the Purple Raiders' John Carroll. The play erupted the gym and gave the team a lasting momentum boost. 

In all during the game, Arellano led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 5-of-7 from the line. Arellano was also the team's leading rebounder with nine. From there a balanced scoring effort supported the team's offense. Hohman and Phariz Watkins each added nine points, Emmanuel Perdue contributed eight and Tamal Watkins scooped in seven. 

Mount was led by a trio of players who reached double-figures -- D'Vontay Friga (18), Gurley (17), and Braedon Poole (12). Poole was also the team's leading rebounder with nine. 

Heidelberg held advantages in many key statistical categories on the night including field goal percentage (47% to 41%), free throw makes (23 to 16), rebounds (34 to 29), and blocks (two to one).

The win over the Purple Raiders was The Berg's first since a 74-72 win on February 10, 2018.

The Student Princes will finish out their current five-game homestand with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Ohio Northern on Wednesday, January 8th.