TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Heidelberg University Men's Basketball team scored their first victory over the Alma College Fighting Scots, in a down-to-the-wire one-point game, 72-71. The contest featured 18 lead changes and 20 ties, and was never more than a two-possession game throughout all 40 minutes.

"It was great to come out with a victory in the opener. I was really proud of our guys for getting the job done," said Head Coach Mike Summey. "We had a lot of new faces step up for us. It's going to be fun to watch these guys learn to play with one another."

The Student Princes (1-0, 0-0) trailed by five with 1:01 to play when Alma freshman Adam Dugener drilled a 3-pointer from the wing.  

Down 71-66, Markell Johnson-Nichols began the comeback with two from the line. After getting a stop, Heidelberg called for a timeout. When play resumed, Johnson-Nichols drew iron on a potential game-tying three. Rayshawn Hubbard deftly tracked down the rebound as it sailed toward the counter and wisely called for a timeout in midair. 

Maintaining possession, HU inched within one on a contested layup by Jarveil Gainey with 10.7 seconds left. The Tricolor was forced to foul and sent Dugener to the line in the bonus. 

Fortune smiled upon The Berg as the freshman Dugener, who wowed the Seiberling Gymnasium crowd with a 41-point debut, missed the front end of the one-and-one. With no timeouts remaining, Gainey took the rebound and raced forward. Attacking the rim, he was fouled with 2.8 seconds left. 

Still trailing, 71-70, Gainey's first free throw rattled around the rim and fell in to tie the game. The second shot was pure, and gave HU the lead.

A desperation inbound heave into the forecourt was knocked around and out of bounds by Alma, giving HU the ball with .3 seconds remaining. Heidelberg's Chris Tackett was sent to the line, where he intentionally missed the second shot, effectively ending the game. 

Johnson-Nichols led the attack with 22 points, shooting 12-15 from the free throw line. Hubbard added 15 points, scoring his first double-double with 11 rebounds. Gainey tallied 13 points for the Berg, adding nine rebounds and two blocks.

Heidelberg made 32 free throws on the evening. 

In the early going, Heidelberg found the net first, with a 3-pointer from Deven Fielden. Alma responded with one of their own, firing the Berg to go on a four point run. A three pointer from Jackson Beasley got the crowd on their feet, and set the tone for the Student Princes. A string of free throws from Markell Johnson-Nichols and Rayshawn Hubbard kept the Tricolor alive, sitting at 30-29 with three minutes left.

A quick-transition dunk from Jarveil Gainey, assisted from the Scots' arc by Johnson-Nichols gave 'Berg the energy to close out the half. Gainey added a pair of foul shots to tie the match. The Student Princes couldn't hold the lead, going into halftime down 36-35. 

Alma kicked off the second half scoring with a three-point play. The score bounced back and forth until Alma secured a four point lead. Four points from Johnson-Nichols tied the game up at 45-45. With 9:30 to go, 'Berg gained the lead, four points ahead of the Scots. The score continued seesawing, with Dugener burying shot after shot. 

The Student Princes would not be denied, however. The experienced 'Berg players seemed poised down the stretch, setting up Gainey's heroics. 

Heidelberg took advantage of quick transitions, scoring 10 of their points from fast breaks.

The Student Princes will return to the court this Friday for the Ron Linhart Memorial Classic. The two-day tournament will host Washington & Jefferson, St. Francis, and Albion. St. Francis and Albion will kickoff the action Friday at 5:30 p.m. Heidelberg will follow to take on W&J at 7:30 p.m. Day two starts with Albion vs. W&J, followed by the Student Princes battling St. Francis at 5 p.m.