Box Score UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Marietta College men's basketball team led by as many as 18 points in the second half, but could not withstand a furious John Carroll rally as the Pioneers fell 90- 80 Saturday (Jan.14) afternoon in Cleveland. The loss drops Marietta to 9-6 overall and 4-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Blue Streaks improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the OAC. [
Box Score]
John Carroll turned the tables on the Pioneers from the last time the two schools met on the hardwood. Playing in the championship game of the OAC Tournament last February, Marietta erased a 21-point Blue Streak lead in the second half en route to the conference championship.
Marietta led 60-42 with 14:17 left to play in the second half before the Blue Streaks slowly chipped away at the deficit. The Blue Streaks took the lead for good at the 8:16 mark of the second half off of a Corey Shontz three-pointer. John Carroll out scored the Pioneers 48-20 over the last 14:17 to secure the victory.
Senior post
Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood) led the Pioneers with 25 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard
Tyler Hammond (Cleveland/St. Ignatius) added 13 points with three boards. Juniors
Jason Humphrey (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) and
Brian Crader (Thornville/Sheridan) each chipped in with nine points apiece.
Shontz led the Blue Streaks with a game-high 30 points going 7-of-9 from behind the arch. Patrick Sweeney scored 14 points for the Streaks in the win.
Marietta finished the game shooting 40.4% (23-of-57) from the field, 31% (9-of-29) from three-point range and 71.4% (25-of-35) from the free throw line.
John Carroll shot 53.7% (29-of-54) from the field, 50% (10-of-20) from three and 57.9% (22-of-38) from the free throw line.
The teams combined to shoot 73 free throws in a game that saw 56 total fouls called. The Blue Streaks held the edge on the boards 44-31 and committed 20 turnovers to the Pioneers' 16.
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday (Jan. 18) evening playing host to Mount Union. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
