MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College men's basketball team dropped its latest decision to the visiting Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jackets 80-72 Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon in its 2009-10 home opener at Fenton Court. The loss drops the Pioneers' record to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Baldwin-Wallace improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the OAC. [Box Score]

Marietta came out strong in front of a big crowd at Fenton Court and led throughout the entire first half. The Pioneers largest lead was by 13, 28-15, with 9:39 remaining in the period. The Yellow Jackets chipped away at the lead for the rest of the half and found themselves trailing by only two, 40-38, at intermission.  The Yellow Jackets started the second half on 12-2 run making the score 50-42 with 15:35 remaining in regulation. Baldwin-Wallace then stretched its lead to 10 points, 64-54, with 7:10 left to play in the second stanza. Marietta would get to within four points, 74-70, with 1:51 to play, but could not get any closer fell by eight, 80-72.

Sophomore post Kevin Knab (Lakewood, Lakewood) led all scorers with 22 points while collecting a game-high 14 rebounds. Fellow classmate Trevor Halter (Malvern, Malvern) was the only other Pioneer in double figures. He scored 15 points on the night. Freshman guard Tyler Worstell (Prospect, Franklin Heights) recorded a game-high five assists in the loss.

Baldwin-Wallace was led by Zane Meader with 20 points and seven rebounds. Kyle Brown scored 14 points, while fellow starter Chris Ameen added 13 points. Kevin Gall chipped in with 12 points off the bench for the Yellow Jackets.

The Pioneers shot 41% (25-of-61) from the field, 17.4% (4-of-23) from three-point range and 81.8% (18-of-22) from the free throw line. Baldwin-Wallace shot 40.9% (27-of-66) from the field, 35.3% (6-of-17) from behind the arc and 87% (20-of-23) from the free throw line. The Pioneers out rebounded the Yellow Jackets 42-35 but lost the turnover battle, committing 20 to Baldwin-Wallace's 13. The Yellow Jackets scored 20 points off of the Pioneer's 20 turnovers.

Marietta will be back in action on Saturday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Heidelberg. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.