Record-Setting Performance Lifts Heidelberg Over Wilmington 90-78

After three straight close games, the Heidelberg College men’s basketball team left nothing to chance Saturday afternoon at Wilmington. The Berg scored 53 points in the second half en route to a 90-78 win over the Quakers. With the win, Heidelberg improves to .500 with a 3-3 overall record and 1-0 mark in OAC play. Wilmington falls to 3-2 and 0-1 in conference.

Heidelberg shot .692 percent (9-for-13) from long range, setting a new single-game record. The old record of .647 percent (11-for-17) was set during the 1993-94 campaign.  

Heidelberg was led in scoring by junior Shawn Shriver (Bellevue, Ohio / Western Reserve), who scored 21 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field, including 5-for-6 from three-point range. Sophomore Chad Szalay (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) came off the bench to contribute 15, while senior Ron Higgins (Vermillion, Ohio / Firelands) and juniors Greg Tyson (Lima, Ohio / Senior) and Brian Schmidt (Hinckley, Ohio) each added 12.

Junior Andrew Lemmon (Port Clinton, Ohio / Port Clinton) rounded out Heidelberg’s scoring with 10 points. He also led the team in rebounding with 7.

For Wilmington, Fred Harrison scored 24 points, while Justin Gaines contributed 12.

The game was close throughout the first half, featuring five ties. Wilmington built its largest lead of the first half with 10:19 remaining, 19-15, on a jumper by Harrison. But the Student Princes responded with a 17-4 run to give Heidelberg a nine-point advantage with five minutes remaining in the half.  During the run, Heidelberg went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Wilmington would cut the deficit to three just before intermission.

The second half remained just as close, as Heidelberg’s Tyson tied the score for the eighth time in the contest with 9:50 remaining in the game. After a Wilmington jumper, Heidelberg went on a 17-4 run to take the lead for good at 72-61 with 4:09 remaining in the game. During the run, the Berg’s Szalay and Shriver nailed two jumpers from beyond the arc.

Heidelberg scorched the nets all game long, making 28-of-46 shots from the field (.609 percent). Wilmington made 28-of-58 from the field (.483 percent). The Student Princes out rebounded the Quakers 34-27