ALBION, Mich. - Albion College men's basketball coach Jody May said his team was rewarded Tuesday night for refusing to give up.

The Britons trailed Heidelberg University by six with 34 seconds left, but the Student Princes made just 1-of-4 opportunities at the free throw line down the stretch allowing for Kolin Kazen to score two baskets, including a tip-in a second before the final horn, as Albion recorded a stunning 67-66 victory.

"I told the team I don't care whatever happens in life, basketball, whatever, you never quit because you never know what can happen," May said. "We got rewarded tonight. Sometimes you don't get rewarded.

"Basketball is a funny game because I thought we outplayed them in the first half and we only led by five," May added. "They clearly outplayed us in the second half. They probably deserved to win the game, but the ball bounced our way at the end."

Lawrence Ridgell drove the ball to the basket over the final 6 ½ minutes of the first half. The sophomore guard scored Albion's final 14 points of the half as the Britons held a 28-23 advantage at the half.

"You can't pass the ball against the Heidelberg defense because they push you out and deny," May said. "We had to rely on 1-on-1 matchups. It's not pretty basketball in my eyes but you have to take what the defense gives you. The defense gave us the lane tonight and our guys did a good job of attacking the basket and finishing."

Mike Smith produced a pair of baskets in the paint as Albion maintained a 7-point margin, 32-25, two minutes into the second half.

Five players scored baskets as Heidelberg ripped off a 13-1 run. Dane Givner, who started the rally with a jumper, hit a layup to put the Student Princes on top 38-33 with 13:49 left. Heidelberg held a 9-point lead three times with less than nine minutes to play.

With Ridgell on the bench with four fouls, Anthony Wash became the Briton to slash to the basket. He scored layups on three consecutive possessions as Albion trimmed the deficit to 56-52 with 5 ½ minutes left.

Ridgell scored his only basket of the second half with 3:14 to play as Albion trailed 59-57. He finished with a career-high 20 points, knocking down 6-of-12 shots from the field and 8-of-9 opportunities from the free throw line.

After the teams traded turnovers and missed shots, Victor Fortkamp and Givner scored as Heidelberg extended its lead to 63-57 with 52 seconds left.

Albion refused to take a 3-point shot in the final minute as Wash produced a pair of layups to keep the Britons within striking distance. Wash also reached a career scoring high, finishing with 18 points. The point guard also dished out three of Albion's five assists.

Kazen was Albion's third double-figure scorer, finishing with 11 points.

Four of Heidelberg's starters scored in double figures. Darion Capers, who was 5-of-7 from the field, led his team with 17 points. Nate Davis and Fortkamp finished with 15 and 14, respectively.

Albion, which takes a 2-1 record into its Thanksgiving break, hits the road for the first time this season Dec. 1 when it travels to Indiana for a matchup with Anderson University.