GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Heidelberg University Men's Basketball team survived a frantic final minute to escape Beeghly Gymnasium with a dramatic 69-68 victory over Thiel on Saturday afternoon. 

Having surrendered the lead for the first time all game, the Kings of the Comeback delivered one final response. With 5.3 seconds left to play, Trey Killens raced the ball up court and finished a driving layup between three defenders at the buzzer -- a decisive, game-winning play that silenced the home crowd and capped another dramatic victory.

The Student Princes were sharp and confident from the opening tip, spacing the floor and attacking in transition to seize early control. Heidelberg shot better than 50 percent in the first half and buried seven 3-pointers, and led by as many as 18. Marcos Vazquez set the tone with aggressive drives and timely perimeter shooting, while Riley Gossom and Brady Bosma knocked down early triples that forced Thiel to play catch-up.

Jarveil Gainey added energy off the bench, finishing fast breaks and helping The Berg control tempo on both ends. For much of the first 20 minutes, Heidelberg dictated pace and rhythm, looking every bit like the team in command. HU led, 40-30, at halftime.

Thiel, however, flipped the script after the break. The Tomcats found their shooting touch, hit four second-half threes, and steadily chipped away at the deficit. What had been a comfortable Heidelberg advantage quickly turned into a one-possession game as Thiel's pressure forced turnovers and generated second-chance opportunities.

The final five minutes were tense and physical. Markell Johnson-Nichols answered multiple Thiel runs by getting to the free-throw line and finishing through contact, while Trey Killens attacked downhill to keep Heidelberg narrowly in front. Still, Thiel refused to fold, taking its first lead of the half at the free-throw line with just 5.3 seconds remaining -- setting up Killens to be the hero.

Killens finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Johnson-Nichols, Vazquez, and Riley Gossom also reached double figures as Heidelberg improved to 7–5 on the season. 

Heidelberg returns to league action at Ohio Northern on Wednesday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.