COLUMBUS – In front of a boisterous crowd at the Capital Center, the Capital University men's basketball team defeated Heidelberg, 92-86, in their Ohio Athletic Conference regular season opener on Wednesday night.

After falling behind 6-0 to the Student Princes, the Crusaders shot their way back in the game, going on a 12-2 run and eventually forcing their opposition to adjust on defense.

The majority of the Crusaders scoring in the first half came from junior guard Michael Green (Dublin, Ohio), who scored a team-high 21 points, 19 of them coming in the opening half of play.

Both teams played at a frantic pace throughout the entire first half, as back and forth baskets led to them each shooting over 48 percent in the opening frame.

Capital eventually managed to build a more comfortable advantage over Heidelberg, leading 47-35 at halftime.

As the second half unfolded, the Crusaders continually increased their advantage, leading by as many as 18 points midway through the final half of play.

At the 11 minute mark in the second half, the Student Princes began their attempt at a comeback, eventually cutting the Crusaders lead to a one possession game with just under a minute and a half remaining in regulation.

However, the Crusaders capitalized on seven of eight free throws in the final minute of play, leading to their six point victory.

Junior forward Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) followed Green on the Crusaders stat sheet, totaling 14 points and five rebounds on six of 10 shooting.

Freshman guard Tyrel Jackson (Dublin, Ohio) converted on three of six shots from behind the arc, tallying 11 points on the game, while senior forward Ben Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

A total of eight Crusaders checked in with at least six points on the night.

In total, Heidelberg outshot Capital, 56.4 percent to 50 percent for the game, while the Crusaders capitalized off their defensive pressure, outscoring the Student Princes 15-9 off turnovers.

With the win, Capital (3-2 overall, 1-0 OAC) picks up its first OAC victory of the season, as they are now set to prepare for a road trip to Baldwin Wallace on Dec. 7 in Berea, Ohio.

Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.

To listen to head coach Damon Goodwin's latest coach's show podcast, click here.