Heileman scores a career-high 15, Napier posts another double-double in a 64-59 loss to Heidelberg

By Tim Glon

ADA — Sophomore Grant Heileman (Millersport/Sheridan) had a career-high 15 points and sophomore C.J. Napier (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) had his third consecutive double-double to lead Ohio Northern in a 64-59 Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball loss to Heidelberg on Saturday at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears fall to 2-3 overall and are 2-3 in the OAC, while the Student Princes remain undefeated at 5-0, 5-0.

Heileman's 15 points marks the second consecutive game he scored in double figures after an 11-point performance on Friday night at Heidelberg.

Napier had 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, junior Brandon Waugh (Columbus/Northland) added 12 points and sophomore Daniel Unruh (Elida) scored 10 points for Ohio Northern.

Heidelberg was led by Dylan Woods with a game-high 26 points.

The score was tied at 50-all with nine minutes left when HU went on a 5-0 run to take the lead for good.

Woods made a free throw with 1:31 remaining to give the Student Princes a 60-57 lead and Napier answered with a pair of free throws at the 34 second mark to make it 60-59.

Heidelberg beat the press and got a layup with 25.2 seconds left to go back up 62-59.

After a timeout, Northern had a chance to tie, but the HU defence forced the final of 17 Polar Bear turnovers with 3.6 ticks left.

Woods made a pair of free throws to ice the game.

"We had too many turnovers," ONU head coach Rich Bensman said. "We had 17 turnovers that led to 25 points and that is just too many. We did a great job on the boards, though, limiting them to just five offensive boards. We had chances late, but didn't execute down the stretch. We had many good things to build on, but just too many mistakes to beat a good team."

Northern finished the game 22-of-54 from the floor for 40.7 percent and were 6-of-18 from 3-point range for 33.3 percent. Heidelberg made 22-of-49 field goal attempts for 44.9 percent and hit 4-of-14 threes for 28.6 percent.

ONU won the rebounding battle 34-25, including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive end.

The Polar Bears will return to action next weekend with a home-and-home against John Carroll with a home game on Friday and a road tilt in University Heights on Saturday.