DEFIANCE, Ohio – Heidelberg (Ohio) University drained 15 three-pointers and the Lakeland College men's basketball team returned to play after an 11-day layoff with an 88-76 loss Monday afternoon in the opening game of the Purple & Gold Tournament hosted by Defiance College.
Heidelberg, known as the Student Princes, went on a 19-4 run in the second half to break open a close game and hand the Muskies their second loss in 11 games. Heidelberg (4-5 overall) advanced to the championship game of the tourney tomorrow, while Lakeland will face Illinois Institute of Technology in the consolation game Tuesday.
The Muskies shot a robust 58.7%, making 27 of 46 shots, including 21 of 29 from inside the three-point arc. Lakeland just didn't get enough shots, though, committing an uncharacteristic 25 turnovers and also giving up 15 offensive rebounds while being out-boarded 34-26.
Heidelberg led just 44-40 after two free throws by
Joey Burris (
Sr.-Kiel, Wis.) 54 seconds into the second half, but things went south from there for the Muskies. The Student Princes followed with 12 straight points, all coming on three-pointers. Ben Jones hit three in the stretch, with his third making it 56-40 with 16:23 to play.
Heidelberg eventually pushed the lead to 72-51 with 11:56 left in the game, capping a stretch with 31 points in a span of just over nine minutes. The Muskies rallied and got within ten after a three by
Brandon James (
Fr.-Rockford, Ill.) made it 80-70 with 3:55 left in the game, but couldn't chip away much more, getting only as close as eight in the final two minutes.
Lakeland got off to a good start with an early 16-9 lead just over seven minutes into the game, and the first half was a back-and-forth affair with 12 lead changes and six ties. The Student Princes finished the half on an 11-3 spurt to take a 41-36 lead into halftime.
Burris led the Muskies with 21 points and five assists
Travis Kell (
So-Madison, Wis.) added 17 points and six rebounds while making 7 of 9 field goal tries.
Zach Van Engen (
Jr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) also chipped in 10 points.
Heidelberg was led by Kiere Bennie with 25 points, one of five on his team to score in double figures. The Student Princes shot 47.8% from the floor, hitting 33 of 69 field goals.
