Box Score MARIETTA, Ohio – It took an extra five minutes, but Head Coach Jon VanderWal's squad was able escape with an 80-78 overtime victory over the University of Mount Union Wednesday (Jan. 18) night inside Ban Johnson Arena. The win makes Marietta's overall record 10-6 and 5-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Mount Union drops to 7-9 overall and 3-6 in the OAC. [Box Score]

Mount Union started the game by hitting its first three attempts from behind the arch to jump out to an early 9-0 lead. The Pioneers responded with a 21-6 run over the next 10 minutes to lead 21-15 with 7:29 to play in the first half.

Junior guard Jacob Owens (Mansfield/Mansfield) converted on a four-point play which tied the game at 15-15. Senior post Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood) then converted in the lane giving Marietta its first lead of the evening, 17-15, with 8:32 left in the first half.

The Purple Raiders closed out the opening period with a 14-7 run to take a 29-28 lead into halftime.

Marietta started the second half on an 11-3 run to reclaim the lead, 39-32, with 17:59 left in regulation. Mount Union would not go away though as it clawed itself back into the game when it looked as if Marietta was going to put the game away early in the second half.

The Purple Raiders went on a 12-3 run to retake the lead, 44-42, with 12:07 left in the second half. Mount Union would hold that lead for most of the second half, leading by as many as seven down the stretch.

Every Marietta conversion was immediately followed by a Purple Raider answer during crunch time of the game. Then, with 37 seconds on the clock, Knab converted two from the free throw line, tying the game at 72-72. Mount Union settled for a desperation three that was off target as time expired sending the game to overtime.

Six of Marietta's eight points in OT came from Knab free throws. Tyler Hammond (Cleveland/St. Ignatius) hit a jumper to account for the other two Pioneer points. Mount Union failed on its final attempt from three as the horn sounded giving Marietta the hard fought 80-78 overtime victory.

Knab led all scorers with 24 points and seven rebounds. The pre-season All-American converted 14-of-16 from the charity stripe in the game. Fellow senior post Conner Kilpatrick (Bowling Green/Bowling Green) scored 11 points off the bench while grabbing four boards.

Junior post Jason Humphrey (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) added 10 points in the win. Hammond added nine points and dished out a game-high five assists from the point.

Mount Union was led by Jimmy Wood and Stevie Griffin, both scoring 17 points. TJ Gillespie added 14 points for the Purple Raiders off the bench. Justen Little scored seven points with five assists in defeat.

Marietta finished the game shooting 47.6% (20-of-42) from the field, 29.4% (5-of-17) from behind the arch and 77.8% (35-of-45) from the free throw line.

Mount Union shot 50% (26-of-52) from the field, 50% (11-of-22) from three and 78.9% (15-of-19) from the charity stripe.

Marietta held the edge in rebounding 31-25. Each team committed 14 turnovers while both teams combined to commit 53 fouls on the night.

The Pioneers start the second half of the OAC season on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets of Baldwin-Wallace come to town for a 3 p.m. tip-off. Marietta will be looking to avenge a 93-74 loss earlier in the season.