ATHENS, Ohio – The Marietta College men's basketball team renewed its rivalry with nearby Ohio University on Wednesday (Dec. 14) night at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats came out on top in the 95th meeting of the teams with an 88-54 victory. It was the first time the Bobcats (8-1) and the Pioneers (6-2) have played since 1985. [Box Score]

Junior post #Jason Humphrey (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier)# led the way for Marietta with 11 points and four rebounds. Senior post #Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood)# scored 10 points while also posting five boards for Marietta.

Freshman guard #Brennan McKean (Jeromesville, Ohio/Northwestern)# came off the bench scoring eight points, all in the first half, and pulling down a team-high six rebounds. Junior guard #Jacob Owens (Mansfield/Mansfield)# and senior post #Conner Kilpatrick (Bowling Green/Bowling Green)# each scored six points off the bench for the Pioneers. Kilpatrick collected six rebounds as well.

The Bobcats came out in control from the start scoring the first eight points of the game. Ohio stayed hot throughout the first half jumping out to an early 28-3 lead just eight minutes into the contest.

Marietta would respond over the next seven minutes outscoring the Bobcats 16-13 making the score 41-19 at the 4:29 mark of the first half.

Ohio was able regain the upperhand, and closed the half on a Stevie Taylor three-pointer giving the Bobcats a 56-26 advantage at the break. The big advantage was fueled by the Bobcats draining 9-of-16 (56.3%) attempts from behind the arc in the opening period.

The Pioneers stayed with the Bobcats in the second half of play. Ohio only out scored the Pioneers 32-28 in the second half as the Marietta defense was much better. The Bobcats' lead stretched to as many as 37 en route to the win.

D.J. Cooper led the way for Ohio with 15 points and seven assists. Big man Reggie Keely added 13 points off the bench with seven rebounds while Nick Kellogg scored 12, all from behind the arc.

For the game, Marietta finished shooting 25.7% (18-of-70) from the floor, 16.7% (5-of-30) from behind the arc and 76.5% (13-of-17) from the free throw line.

The Bobcats finished the game shooting 50% (35-of-70) from the field, 46.2% (12-of-26) from three and 66.7% (6-of-9) from the free throw line.

The Bobcats held the edge in rebounding 52-40.

The Pioneers return to Ohio Athletic Conference action on Saturday (Dec. 17) afternoon as they host Ohio Northern inside Ban Johnson Arena. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.