Rushton's game-high 26 points, Roux's career-high 20 points lift Men's Basketball past Heidelberg 96-86

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Senior Branden Rushton scored a game-high 26 points and junior Isaiah Roux scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Ohio Northern men's basketball team to a 96-86 victory over the Heidelberg Wednesday night at the ONU Sports Center.

Ohio Northern, winners of five of its last six games, improves its record to 13-9 overall and 9-6 in the OAC. Heidelberg falls to 5-17, 1-14 on the season.

Senior Jared Horstman scored 14 points while pulling down a game-high seven rebounds, junior Jordan Martin added 13 points and senior Dominique Royal added 10 points and six rebounds for the Polar Bears.

Rushton also pulled down five rebounds and dished out three assists.

Deonte Holder and Keith Mackie led Heidelberg with 24 and 22 points, respectively.

Ohio Northern went on a 10-0 run, capped off by a three-point play by Roux, to take the lead 29-21 with 7:25 remaining in the first half.

Horstman's last second tip-in as time expired in the first half gave the Polar Bears a 45-38 lead going into the break.

Ohio Northern would open up a game-high 17 point at 67-50 lead on a layup from freshman Aron Thress with 13:19 remaining in the second half.

The Student Princes would pull within 51-44 before an empthatic alley-oop dunk from Royal and an ensuing free throw would give the momentum back to the Polar Bears.

Ohio Northern shot 34-of-57 (59.6 percent) from the field and 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from beyond the arc. They also hit 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) free throws.

Heidelberg shot 31-of-57 (54.4 percent) from the field and 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) from three-point land. The Student Princes hit 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) free throws on the night.

Ohio Northern held the advantage on the rebounding battle 29-23.

The Polar Bears will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Mount Union to take on the league-leading Purple Raiders at 3 pm.