Box Score NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Nothing ever comes easy in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Just ask Pioneer boss Jon VanderWal as he saw his team squander a double-digit lead at Muskingum, only to blitz the Fighting Muskies over the last six plus minutes on its way to a 64-57 road victory over their rival Wednesday (Jan. 25) night. [Box Score]

The win improves Marietta's record to 12-6 and 7-4 in the OAC. Muskingum falls to 6-12 overall and 3-8 in the OAC.

The first half was a low scoring affair for both teams. Marietta held Muskingum to just 9-of-26 shooting from the field in the first period. Muskingum was able to cut the Pioneer lead to 29-23 with three seconds on the clock before intermission. Sophomore wing Tyler Thomas (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) drained a long-range three as time expired, putting Marietta up 32-23 at the half.

The second half saw Muskingum control the pace of play for the better part of the stanza. Sophomore guard Tyler Hammond (Cleveland/St. Ignatius) buried a three-pointer putting Marietta up 10, 38-28, with 16:13 to play in regulation. Muskingum went on a 22-6 run over the next nine minutes to lead 50-44 with 7:54 remaining.

Marietta would respond. Trailing by five, 53-48, with 6:19 left on the clock, the Pioneers were the aggressor scoring 16 of the final 20 points of the game. Senior post Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood) and junior post #J.J. Martin# accounted for 13 of the final 16 Pioneer points down the stretch as Marietta held on for the 64-57 victory.

Martin and Knab each scored 16 points in the win. Martin grabbed 11 boards while Knab snagged four with four blocks. Junior post Jason Humphrey (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier) chipped in with 10 points with five rebounds. Hammond added seven points while dishing a game-high five assists.

Kyle Clinedinst led Muskingum with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Logan Kimble scored 11 points with three assists and three steals. Clay Owings and J.J. Armstrong each scored 10 points for the Muskies.

For the game, Marietta shot 40.7% (22-of-54) from the field, 26.3% (5-of-19) from three-point range and 62.5% (15-of-24) from the foul line.

Muskingum finished the game shooting 37.7% (20-of-53) from the field, 26.7% (4-of-15) from behind the arc and 65% (13-of-20) from the free throw line.

Marietta held the edge in rebounding 39-34 and committed 12 turnovers to Muskingum's 13. The Pioneer bench also outscored the Muskie bench 27-16.

Marietta returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 28) afternoon against the Otterbein Cardinals. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.