ALBION, Mich. - Albion College trimmed a 13-point deficit midway through the second half down to one with 3 ½ minutes to play, but the Britons never got over the hump in a 78-75 loss to Heidelberg University in non-league men's basketball action.

Darius Branch canned a pair of jumpers and Corey Wheeler and Jaylin Forham sank a pair of free throws each as Albion trailed 64-59 with eight minutes left.

Branch added a three-point play as Albion trailed 66-64 with 6:12 left.

Albion had an opportunity to forge a tie at 67, but Wheeler missed the second of two shots from the free throw line.

That was as close as Albion would get as Heidelberg scored the next seven points. Kiere Bennie, one of two Heidelberg players with 15 points in the game, produced five points on a basket and three free throws.

Albion had opportunities to pull close from the free throw line, but it shot just 68 percent.

Wheeler, who logged 30 minutes off the bench, scored 12 points and he fell a rebound shy of a double-double. Branch finished with 16 points and Fordham chipped in with 15.

Albion (1-2 overall) heads to the University of Mount Union for a non-league game on Saturday.