Ohio Athletic Conference: Season 2025-26
Ohio Athletic Conference 2025-26
Ohio Athletic Conference Final: Heidelberg University - Otterbein College 82-75 Heidelberg University (Mike Summey): Marcos Vazquez, Jarveil Gainey, Trey Killens, Markell Johnson-Nichols, Brady Bosma, Jalen Dandridge, Darius Davis, Jordan Hudson, Zay Everson, Dylan McGlinch, AJ Adio, Rayshawn Hubbard, LyDell Sewell, Connor Flood, Kobe Brown, Riley Gossom, Abba Lawal, Xzander Ream, Jackson Beasley Standings 2025-26
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Team
W-L
OAC
- qualified to the play-offs  Heidelberg University won Championship of Ohio Athletic Conference 2025-26
Left: Andy Bucheit (coach Marietta College)
 Heidelberg Claims OAC Tournament Championship-Mar 1, 2026
Heidelberg Claims OAC Tournament Championship with 82–75 Win Over Otterbein Game Recap The Heidelberg Student Princes captured the 2026 Ohio Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament title with an 82–75 victory over the Otterbein Cardinals Saturday evening. Heidelberg shot an efficient 56.6 percent from the field and used a strong first-half performance to build momentum, earning its first OAC Tournament championship since 2008 and securing the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. How It Happened The Student Princes set the tone early, using balanced scoring and interior production to take a 39–29 lead into halftime. Heidelberg connected on 55.6 percent of its shots in the opening 20 minutes, including five three-pointers, while outscoring Otterbein 26–17 midway through the half during a key stretch. Otterbein responded in the second half behind an improved perimeter attack, knocking down 11 three-pointers after the break. The Cardinals trimmed the deficit to as few as three points in the final minute after a late three-pointer made it 78–75 with 18 seconds remaining. Heidelberg, however, remained composed at the free-throw line down the stretch. The Student Princes converted 11-of-13 second-half free throws - including key makes in the final 30 seconds — to secure the 82–75 championship victory. Heidelberg dominated the paint, holding a 46–30 scoring advantage inside, and received 32 points from its bench in a complete team effort. Top Performers Heidelberg Jarveil Gainey (6'2''-G) led the way with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added nine rebounds. Marcos Vazquez (6'0''-PG) finished with 18 points and four rebounds. Abba Lawal (7'0''-C) provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Otterbein Julian Heckman (6'0''-G) paced the Cardinals with 20 points and 9 rebounds, connecting on 4 three-pointers. Reece Huber (6'3''-G) added 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Micah Germany (6'1''-G) contributed 12 points, including 4 three-pointers. Noteworthy This marked Heidelberg’s 8th appearance in an OAC championship game and it’s second OAC tournament title. With the victory, Heidelberg earns the OAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament. This is Otterbein’s 18th appearance in an OAC championship game and finished as the OAC regular season runner-up with a 13-3 record. The Cardinals will await the NCAA selection show on Monday to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament. OAC Final: Otterbein - Heidelberg 75-82 OAC Semifinals: Mount Union - Heidelberg 82-84 Otterbein - Ohio Northern 53-51 OAC Quarterfinals: Ohio Northern - Wilmington 88-69 Muskingum - Heidelberg 67-84 Courtesy of oac.org  All-OAC Awards 2026-Mar 1, 2026
 Elijah Farrington, forward from the University of Mount Union, picked up the Player of the Year at the NCAA Division III.
He was also voted to the First Team.
Julian Heckman, guard from the Otterbein College, was selected to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
He was also chosen to the Tournament Team.
He was selected to the OCC-Buckeye Division Second Team as well as the All-Central District Honorable Mention back in 2021.
Chance Casenhiser, guard from the University of Mount Union, was named to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
He also earned a spot in the Tournament Team.
He was selected as the All-OAC Honorable Mention in 2025.
Duane Davis, guard from the Muskingum University, was voted to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
Among many awards Davis' team made it to the OAC Tournament Semifinals in 2025.
He was selected as the All-OAC Honorable Mention in 2024.
Will Miller, guard from the Ohio Northern University, was selected to the First Team at the NCAA Division III.
He was selected as the All-OAC Honorable Mention in 2025.
Markell Johnson-Nichols, guard from the Heidelberg University, was chosen to the First Team of NCAA Division III.
He was selected to the All-OAC Second Team in 2025.
All-Tournament MVP:  Marcos Vazquez (6'0''-PG) of HeidelbergPlayer of the Year: Elijah Farrington (6'7''-F) of Mt.UnionDefensive Player of the Year: Shaun Vaden (6'11''-C) of Mt.UnionFreshman of the Year: Dominic Theado (6'6''-F) of OtterbeinCo-Coach of the Year: Jon Tropf of Ohio Northern Co-Coach of the Year: Andy Winters of Otterbein All-OAC First Team 2026  Farrington  Heckman  Casenhiser  Davis  Miller  Johnson-Nichols Elijah Farrington (6'7''-F) of Mt.Union Julian Heckman (6'0''-G) of Otterbein Chance Casenhiser (6'1''-G) of Mt.Union Duane Davis (6'0''-G) of Muskingum Will Miller (6'2''-G) of Ohio Northern Markell Johnson-Nichols (6'1''-G) of HeidelbergAll-OAC Second Team 2026  Jones  Harden  Farley  Calloway-White  Harris  Emig Jarius Jones (6'6''-G) of Otterbein Elijah Harden (6'2''-G) of Marietta Domenic Farley (6'0''-G) of Wilmington, OH Se'Ron Calloway-White (6'5''-F) of Capital Aiden Harris (6'4''-F) of Ohio Northern Owen Emig (6'1''-G) of MuskingumAll-OAC Honorable Mention 2026  Cathey  Vazquez  Hamilton  Scowden  Moore  Singleton Elijah Cathey (6'4''-F) of Wilmington, OH Marcos Vazquez (6'0''-PG) of Heidelberg Kevin Hamilton (5'7''-G) of Mt.Union Troy Scowden (6'7''-C) of Otterbein Kevin Moore (6'5''-F) of Mt.Union Mason Wisniewski (6'7''-F) of Marietta Jake Singleton (5'11''-F) of MariettaOAC All-Tournament Team 2026 Vazquez  Gainey Casenhiser  Maag Heckman Marcos Vazquez (6'0''-PG) of Heidelberg Jarveil Gainey (6'2''-G) of Heidelberg Chance Casenhiser (6'1''-G) of Mt.Union Theo Maag (6'7''-F) of Ohio Northern Reece Huber (6'3''-G) of Otterbein Julian Heckman (6'0''-G) of Otterbein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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