EC Ohio News

Led by Eric Panning's sixth career double-double, the No. 22 Heidelberg University men's basketball team held on for a 91-85 victory over Carnegie Mellon University in the opening game of the E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic. A 23-point 'Berg lead in the second half was trimmed to two in the final minutes, but the Student Princes iced the game at the foul line. 

With 15 points and 11 rebounds, Panning was one of six in double figures for the Student Princes. Seth Hohman and Tre Watkins both hit four 3-pointers en route to a 14-point performance, while Isaiah Young added 13 points. Emmanuel Perdue and Jashun Cobb chipped in with 10 points apiece. 

Heidelberg led wire-to-wire, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. A strong showing from long range in the first half allowed Heidelberg to head into halftime with a 15-point lead. The Berg shot 55.6% (10-for-18) from beyond the arc in the opening frame, with six different players dialing it up from long range. 

A triple-hit by Zane Leitwein with 13:21 left in the second half gave the Tricolor a 74-51 lead, their biggest of the game. Carnegie Mellon did not go quietly into the night, however, embarking on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes. 

Hohman banked home a powerful layup with 5:46 left that gave HU a 13-point cushion at 83-70 -- but it would be Heidelberg's last field goal of the game. CMU charged back with a 13-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer by RJ Holmes with 1:58 left. 

Fortunately, HU hit all eight of their free throws in the final three minutes of action which allowed them to maintain their lead. 

HU was 16-for-33 from long range and 11-for-14 at the line for the game. CMU held a 41-31 edge on the glass. 

Watkins had a game-high six assists. 

Heidelberg will look to close out 2022 on a high when they take on host Wooster on the final day of the E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic. Tip-off on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Original source can be found here.