GRANVILLE, Ohio — Less than 4 hours after the Pioneers' final fall athletic activity concluded, the Marietta College men's basketball team kicked off the winter schedule with a 57-50 non-conference victory over host Denison University Sunday (Nov. 15) afternoon inside the Livingston Gymnasium. [Box Score]

Marietta sophomore captain Kevin Knab (Lakewood, Lakewood) scored a game-high 19 points and added 9 rebounds in the victory. The All-Ohio Athletic Conference standout's 11-for-13 performance from the free throw line proved to be the difference in the game. Sophomore Zane Carter (Wellsville, Wellsville) also aided the win with a double-double as he contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Marietta (1-0) finished 16-of-44 (36.4%) from the field, including 5-of-19 (26.3%) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers, who were out-rebounded 39-36, connected on 20-of-29 (69.0%) from the charity stripe in the win. Denison shot 14-of-50 (28.0%) from the floor, 2-of-15 (13.3%) from long range and 20-of-34 (58.8%) from the line.

Denison scored the first 8 points of the game, as Marietta missed its first 5 shots. A lay-up by Knab got the Pioneers on the board with 15:53 to play in the half. The Big Red then extended its lead to 10-3 six minutes into the game. '

A lay-up by freshman Brian Crader ignited a 14-2 Marietta run, enabling it to take a 17-12 advantage with just over 9 minutes left in the period. Denison remained close and the teams entered intermission locked in a 25-25 tie.

Marietta and Denison traded baskets over the first 6 minutes of the second half. Sophomore Zach Walton's (St. Louisville, Utica) lay-up with 13:58 gave the Pioneers a 32-30 advantage and sparked a 14-8 run, which helped Marietta take its largest lead of the night, 46-38.

The Big Red then went on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to one point, 48-47, before sophomore Trevor Halter (Malvern, Malvern) nailed a three-pointer from the corner to boost the lead back to 51-47 with 3:22 left in the game.

Both teams traded a pair of free throws to make the scored 53-49 with 90 seconds to play in the game. Carter added another free throw to increase Marietta's lead to 54-49 with 1:17 left on the clock.

A pair of defensive stands gave the ball back to the Pioneers with 30 seconds to play in the game. Freshman Jacob Owens (Mansfield, Mansfield) drilled both from the free throw line to give Marietta a 56-49 advantage.

Denison managed to hit 1 from the line on its next possession but could not take advantage of a Marietta turnover, giving the ball back to the Pioneers with 9 seconds on the clock. Halter sealed the 57-50 victory by hitting 1-of-2 from the line.

Freshman Scott Kimmey (Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Falls) finished with 9 points and a team-best 4 assists, while Halter added 8 points and Crader had 7 points in the win.

Larry Farmer and Dimonde Hale both scored 16 points to lead Denison.

Marietta is back in action on Friday (Nov. 20) evening when the Pioneers open the Buffalo State University Tournament with a match-up against Nazareth College at 6 p.m.