ALLIANCE -- The magic ran out for the Heidelberg University men's basketball team.  

Fifth-seed HU lost in the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament, falling to top seed Mount Union, 97-66.  The Purple Raiders, ranked No. 7 by D3hoops.com, shot an even 50 percent from the floor and won the rebounding battle, 47-33.  

The Berg wraps up the roller-coaster 2019-20 season, a campaign besieged by injury, with a 12-15 record.  Included in the 12 victories was at least one win over each OAC foe -- a feat Heidelberg had not accomplished since the 2007-08 season.  

Tamal Watkins, who earlier in the day was honored as an All-OAC Second Team selection, finished with a team-high 18 points.  All-OAC honorable mention Dylan Woods added 11 points and Curt Jacobs added 10 points in the loss.  

The Student Princes stayed close throughout much of the first half, but the Purple Raiders closed the half on a 7-0 run during the final two minutes.  As a result, Mount led by 14 at halftime, 45-31.  

The high-octane Purple Raiders opened the second half with a 10-2 run and pushed out to a 22 point lead.  Heidelberg could do little to stop the hosts, as Mount continued to decimate the Tricolor in the paint.  

Mount was led by a 20-point effort off the bench by D'Vontay Friga and a double-double by Braedon Poole (14 points, 10 boards).  

The Purple Raiders will face John Carroll in the finals on Saturday.  Seeded third, JCU upset the two seed Marietta, 86-79.  

Photo courtesy of Mount Union Sports Information