ADA, Ohio — Marietta College's bid to upset host Ohio Northern University came up just short Saturday (Jan. 9) afternoon, as the Polar Bears defeated the Pioneers 67-64 in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) mens' basketball action at the ONU Sports Center. [Box Score]

Marietta (5-8, 2-5 OAC) sophomore Trevor Halter (Malvern, Malvern) finished with a game-best 21 points, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Freshman Jacob Owens (Mansfield, Mansfield) connnected on 5-of-8 three pointers to add 15 points, while sophomores Kevin Knab (Lakewood, Lakewood) and Conner Kilpatrick (Bowling Green, Bowling Green) both pitched in with 8 points in the loss.

Ohio Northern (7-7, 5-2 OAC) had four starters score double figures. Kyle Meyer paced the team with 19 points, Ezra Bradshaw had 18 points and both Scott Schnelle and Tony Meyer finished with 10 points in the win.

Marietta led 28-23 with 6:23 play in the first half. Ohio Northern, however, closed the half on a 15-5 run to enter intermission ahead 38-33. The Pioneers answered with a run of their own to start the second half by scoring 13 of the first 15 points in the period to grab a 46-40 advantage with 15:26 left on the clock. Marietta led by 7 points, 53-46, with 10:59 remaining, but a 15-4 Polar Bear run gave them the lead for good, 61-57, with 6:14 to play. Both teams went cold the rest of the way and Ohio Northern held on for the 67-64 victory.

The Pioneers shot 58.1% (25-of-43) overall, and 50% (10-of-20) from three-point range. The Polar Bears hit 23-of-52 (44.2%) from the field, including 3-of-16 (18.8%) from beyond the arc. Ohio Northern out rebounded Marietta 27-23 and out scored the Pioneers 18-4 at the free throw line.

Marietta will look to bounce back on Wednesday (Jan. 13) night when the Pioneers play host to Otterbein College at 7:30 p.m.