NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Following a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday, the Heidelberg University men's basketball team was back in action on Saturday as they took on Muskingum. Looking for a bounce-back win, The Berg did just that, as they downed the Muskies, 87-67. 

Five Heidelberg players were in double figures for the day as Emmanuel Perdue led the way with a double-double. He scored a game-high 18 while pulling down ten rebounds in the win.

Heidelberg would get off to a bit of a slow start as they saw an early 5-0 deficit. But, the Tricolor got on the board on an Isaiah Young layup at the 17-minute mark of the first half. Muskingum saw a cold spell that allowed Heidelberg to go on an early 7-0 run and make the score 9-5 with 13:19 left following a Jashun Cobb layup. 

The home squad would not be deterred and would take an 18-14 lead on a Luken Hill layup with 9:20 left in the first half. On the following 'Berg possession, Eric Panning pulled down an offensive rebound and slammed it home to cut the deficit to 18-16. After some back and forth from both squads, a Heidelberg steal led to a Cobb layup to knot the game at 23. 

The Berg defense turned up the heat after tying it up and would hold the Muskies scoreless for the next three minutes. The defensive pressure helped ignite a 7-0 run for the visitors to make the score 30-23 with 4:09 remaining. Muskingum would not go away and cut into the Heidelberg lead 34-32 following a 3-point basket from Kaelan Pulliam. The first half closed with both teams getting to the free throw line and Heidelberg taking a 36-33 lead into the break. 

The visitors started out the second half hot, going on a 10-2 run that allowed Heidelberg to stretch their lead to ten. The hot shooting from The Berg continued as Perdue knocked down a 3-pointer to make the score 55-38 with 13:50 on the clock. Following a four-minute dry spell, the home team got a shot to fall on a Bradley Russell basket from distance, making the score 57-41. 

Muskingum would cut their deficit to ten at 61-51 on a Zaveon Croff 3-point shot with 10:12 on the game clock. Heidelberg responded, as they did all game, and brought the lead back to 11 following two free throws from Young. The visitors kept their foot on the gas and put an exclamation on their win as Brady Bosma found Panning for an alley-oop dunk to cap off a bounce-back win for The Berg.   

Perdue's double-double was the first of his career and his 10 rebounds posted is a career-high. 

Heidelberg took care of the ball, only coughing it up five times to Muskingum's 15. The Berg also dominated in the paint putting up 46 points compared to the home team's 10. 

The men will be back in action on Wednesday as they will host Capital University for a midweek clash. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.