COLUMBUS, Ohio — The No. 3 ranked Marietta College men's basketball team won its 20th straight game Wednesday (Feb. 4) evening tying the school record for consecutive wins in a single season. The Pioneers defeated Capital University by the score of 85-73 improving to 20-0 overall and 13-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Capital falls to 5-15 on the season and 3-10 in the OAC.
Marietta's 20-game winning streak equals the OAC Champion 1953-54 squad for consecutive wins in a season. The Pioneers will try to set the record this Saturday (Feb. 7) when they host Wilmington College in Ban Johnson Arena at 3:00 p.m.
The Pioneers were red hot from the floor shooting 63% in the first half, including 56% from three-point range. Marietta led by nine, 39-30, at halftime. Senior post player
Garrett Stephenson (West Milton/Milton-Union) dominated the first half with 12 points and six rebounds.
EwingAny chance the Crusaders had of getting back in the game in the second half were short lived as Marietta continued its torrid shooting. The Pioneers converted 64% from the floor and drained seven three-pointers in the second period to keep Capital from making a comeback.
Junior
RaNeal Ewing (Westerville/Dublin Scioto) led three Pioneers in double figures with 24 points. Ewing sank 9-of-11 shot attempts including 4-of-5 from three-point range. Stephenson finished with 20 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Senior
Andy Dollman (Vienna, W.Va./Parkersburg) chipped in with 18 points and six assists. Dollman was 7-of-10 from the floor and hit 4-of-6 behind the arc.
Capital's AJ Dixon led all scorers with 26 points sinking four three-pointers. Tyrel Jackson scored 14 points, while Andrew Bolka had 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
For the game, Marietta was 35-of-55 (63.6%) from the floor, 12-of-20 (60.0%) from three-point range and 3-of-6 (50.0%) at the free throw line. Capital shot 44.8% (30-of-67) from the floor, 40.0% (8-of-20) behind the arc and 45.5% (5-of-11) at the line.
Marietta edged the Crusaders on the glass 31-30. Both teams took good care of the basketball as the Pioneers committed nine turnovers and Capital had only five.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
