UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — No. 20 John Carroll University led start to finish defeating Marietta College, 99-77, Saturday (Jan. 20) afternoon in a battle for first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball standings.

The Blue Streaks improve to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the OAC. John Carroll is tied with Baldwin Wallace atop the league standings. Marietta falls to 13-4 on the season and 7-3 in the OAC. The Pioneers are tied with Ohio Northern one game behind the conference leaders.

Marietta, playing without two starters and one key bench player sidelined with injuries, found itself behind 21-2 early in the first half. The Blue Streaks pushed the lead as high as 23 points, 35-12, before Marietta put together a 14-6 run to end the half. The Pioneers trailed 49-38 at halftime.

After trading baskets to start the second half, Marietta scored seven straight points to get within three, 51-48, with 17:04 to play. That was as close as the Pioneers would get.

A layup from Kyle Dixon (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) with seven minutes left in the game cut the JCU lead to seven, 77-70. The Blue Streaks held Marietta scoreless over the next three-plus minutes while hitting a trio of three-pointers during a 14-0 run. John Carroll maintained a 20-point lead the rest of the way.

Mel Shuler (Columbus, Ohio/Tree of Life Christian) hit four from behind the arc and led all scorers with 21 points. Dixon added 16 points and six rebounds.

Antonio Vuyancih and Matthew Csuhran each scored 18 points for John Carroll. Vutancih had three steals, while Csuhran recorded four steals and six rebounds. Ryan Berger came off the bench to add 16 points for the Blue Streaks.

For the game, Marietta shot 39.0% (23-of-59) from the floor, 39.3% (11-of-28) from three-point range and 58.8% (20-of-34) at the free throw line. The Blue Streaks were 38-of-75 (50.7%) from the floor, 10-of-28 (35.7%) behind the arc and 13-of-17 (76.5%) at the line.

John Carroll outrebounded the Pioneers, 46-35. The Blue Streaks forced 15 Marietta turnovers, while committing just nine.

Marietta returns home to host Otterbein University on Wednesday (Jan. 24). Tip off in Ban Johnson Arena is set for 7 p.m.

Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.