TIFFIN, Ohio -- Despite a breakout performance from Joe Thompson, the Capital University men's basketball team was upended by No. 19 Heidelberg University on Tuesday evening by a final score of 87-66. 

Thompson led Capital (8-5, 3-3 OAC) in scoring with a new career-high 22 points. He complimented his evening – one that saw him shoot 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-6 from deep – with three rebounds and an assist. 

Alex Eyink maintained his solid freshman campaign with 13 points, three assists, and two steals. David Sanford was the lone other Cap player to hit double figures with 11 points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Capital came out of the gates slowly, allowing Heidelberg (11-1, 6-0) to build a sizable 11 point lead before Eyink's jumper at the 5:21 mark got the Purple and White on the board. From there, Cap floundered at staying with the Student Princes as the hosts took the next five minutes and change to extend their lead out to 23-6. 

A 15-4 run by Capital seemed to lead to a promising swing in momentum for the visiting side, settling the score at 27-21 with 3:20 left in the first half. Joe Thompson helped buoy the good run of form with 10 points in the flurry alone. A layup from Tyler Schreck and Alex Eyink each helped the run. 

Unfortunately for Capital, the team saw that momentum swing quickly fizzle out as Heidelberg closed on a 8-2 run, enabling them to head to the locker room ahead by 12. 

Out of the break, Capital had some moments to get back into the game, once again aided by back-to-back baskets by Joe Thompson. Despite the positive looks, Capital never fully swung the momentum as the nationally ranked Student Princes distanced themselves down the stretch. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
After starting the season leading the lead in rebounds, Tyler Schreck has been kept in check on the glass in Capital's last two games, being held to just seven total boards in the last two contests. He now sits second in the OAC with 9.4 per game. 

Before tonight's game, Joe Thompson had failed to score more than 20 points in his career. He knocked down his 22 points on a sharp 61.5% shooting, helping the team to a 40% effort overall.

THE OPPONENT
Heidelberg's Emmanuel Perdue scored a team-high 21 points. Dylan Woods added 18 points as well. 6-9 center Eric Panning finished with a double-double on 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

UP NEXT
Capital's tough stretch of games will continue this weekend with a home contest vs. Baldwin Wallace University. The hot-shooting Yellow Jackets will travel to Columbus for a women's/men's doubleheader on Saturday, January 15th. The women will tip at 2 p.m., while the men will follow at approximately 4 p.m.