TIFFIN, Ohio—Junior second-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference guard Dane Givner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Harvest Prep) scored his 1,000th career point today, but the Heidelberg University men's basketball team could not cap a second half comeback against Marietta College, falling to the Pioneers, 82-69, in an OAC game at Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin, Ohio. Givner poured in 24 points and now has 1,003 points for his career.

Despite the loss, Givner shot eight-of-15 from the field, including three-of-six from the three point line, pulled down seven rebounds and passed for six assists. Heidelberg (6-17, 4-12 OAC) was also led by junior honorable mention All-OAC forward Nate Davis (Dayton/Stivers) with a season-high 19 points and team-high eight rebounds. With the loss, the Student Princes need to sweep next week's games against Otterbein University and the University of Mount Union to have a chance to earn a berth in the OAC tournament.

Four Pioneers, led by Trevor Halter's 26 points, scored in double figures. Halter was six-of-11 shooting and 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Kevin Knab added 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Tyler Hammond and Tyler Worstell each posted 10 points for Marietta (16-7, 11-5 OAC) was led by. The win was the fourth straight for the Pioneers against the Berg.

Marietta opened the game on a 7-0 run, capped by Tyler Hammond's lay-up on a fast break at the 17:35 mark.

Givner scored nine of Heidelberg's first 13 points to pull the Student Princes to within 23-13 by the 12:18 mark.

The Pioneers built a lead as large as 18 points on two separate occasions in the first half, with the last coming at 38-20 with 2:51 on the clock.

A lay-up by sophomore guard Jordan Turner (Swanton/Delta) and a free throw from sophomore guard Mike Petrie (Columbus/Beechcroft) to close the half brought Heidelberg to within 38-23 at the break.

Senior guard Pat Barrett (Lakewood/Senior) and Givner opened the second half with three-pointers on consecutive possession as the Berg cut the gap to 38-29 with a 6-0 run, capped at the 17:57 mark.

Marietta continued to maintain between 10 and 12-point lead over the next few minutes, until a lay-up by Davis and another triple by Givner with 14:58 on the clock cut the deficit to 43-36.

A pair of free throws by Halter at 14:41 increased Marietta's lead to 45-36, but the Student Princes again countered with three straight points from Chris Jefferies (Concord/Painesville Riverside) and cut the deficit 45-39.

A three-pointer by Worstell gave the Pioneers a 48-39 lead, but Heidelberg scored 10 straight points—including eight from Davis—to tie the score, 49-49, with 9:06 to play.

Heidelberg would never control the lead, and following five more ties, Marietta went on a 15-3 run to take a 78-66 advantage with less than a minute to play.

Heidelberg rebounded from a dismal shooting performance in the first half and finished the game shooting 43.4 (23-of-53) percent overall, including 44.4 (eight-of-18) from beyond the arc, and was 83.3 (15-of-18) percent from the line.

Marietta was 46.6 (27-of-58) from the field, 43.8 (seven-of-16) from the three point line, and 67.7 (21-of-31) from the stripe. The Pioneers also held a 38-30 advantage on the glass.

Both teams combined to commit just 22 turnovers.

Heidelberg opens the final week of regular season play Wednesday, Feb. 15 as it hosts Otterbein at 7:30 p.m. before hosting Mount Union on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 3 p.m.