HOLLAND, Mich. – It was raining three-pointers as the Marietta College men's basketball team defeated Grace Bible College by the score of 95-79 Friday (Dec. 30) evening in the consolation game of the 23rd annual Hope College Russ Devette Holiday Classic. [Box Score]

The teams combined for 22 treys with Marietta connecting on 12-of-24 (50.0%) from behind the arc. Grace Bible was 10-of-25 (40.0%) from long range.

The win improves the Pioneers to 8-4 overall. Grace falls to 12-6 on the season.

A pair of early three-pointers gave Marietta an early 10-3 lead with 16:24 left in the first half. The Pioneers would hit nine from behind the arc in the opening period and take a 15-point lead into the locker room, 50-35.

Junior #Jacob Owens (Mansfield/Mansfield)# led the Pioneer attack with five first-period treys. Owens hit 5-of-7 from long range for 15 points before the break. He ended the game with 20 points, including six three-pointers.

Both teams scored early and often in the second half. However, Grace could get no closer than eight points. A pair of free throws by Aaron Schutte at the 11:15 mark cut the Pioneer lead to 72-64.

Marietta answered with a 9-3 run to push the margin back to 14 points, 81-67, with 8:15 remaining. Owens capped the run with his sixth three-pointer of the night. The Pioneers would extend the lead to as many as 19 points.

Senior #Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood)# earned all-tournament honors after leading the Pioneers with 21 points. Knab was nearly perfect hitting 9-of-10 field goal attempts and all three of his free throws.

Junior #Tyler Worstell (Prospect/Franklin Heights)# chipped in with 10 points. Senior #Joe Puch (Brunswick/Brunswick)# and junior #Jason Humphrey (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier)# each had six rebounds as the Pioneers won the battle of the boards, 40 to 31.

Schutte paced Grace Bible with 14 points. Ryan Krombeen scored 11 points and blocked three shot to earn all-tournament honors. Randy Jefferson pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.

Marietta had its best night shooting this season connecting on 36-of-69 (52.2%) from the floor. The Pioneers also had season highs in points (95), three-pointers (12), and three-point shooting (50.0%).

The Pioneers head back into Ohio Athletic Conference action next week when Heidelberg University comes to town on Saturday, January 7th for a 3 p.m. game.