SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Kean Cougars built a nine-point halftime lead and then held off a determined challenge from Heidelberg College to claim third place in the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic with a 74-70 consolation game victory.

Kean, which lost to host Wittenberg 74-60 in the first round a day earlier, improved to 9-4 overall on the 2010 season. Heidelberg, which lost to Taylor, 81-65, in the first round, dropped to 4-8.

The Cougars and Student Princes played to a statistical standoff, with the primary difference coming from three-point range. Kean finished 5-of-12 from long distance, while Heidelberg made just 2-of-13. The other glaring statistical difference was free throw shooting as the Cougars hit 79 percent of their 24 attempts, compared to Heidelberg's 20-of-35 performance from the charity stripe.

Still, the Student Princes had their chances late, cutting the lead from 13 points at the 10:48 mark to one at the 5:49 mark. The Kean lead was one after a Darrion Capers fastbreak lay-up at the 2:20 mark, but the Cougars answered with a three-pointer by Kenny Pace just nine seconds later. That little bit of breathing room was key to the final sequence as Heidelberg missed its last three-pointers while Kean made its last four free throws.

The Cougars was led by Jonathan Jones, who turned in a spectacular 23-point, 15-rebound, four-assist, four-steal performance. Pace added 13 points off the bench.

Heidelberg was led by Capers with 14 points and six rebounds, although he was credited with seven turnovers in his 29 minutes on the floor. Dane Givner added 11 points and four rebounds as 11 of the 13 Heidelberg players to appear in the game scored at least two points.