ASHLAND, Virginia — The Marietta College men's basketball team begins its quest for the NCAA Division III National Championship Friday (March 6) afternoon when the Pioneers square off against The College of New Jersey at 4 p.m. on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. The host school will play Wesley College in the second game at 6:30 p.m. The two winners will play at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
It will be the first meeting between Marietta and TCNJ on the hardwood. The Pioneers are 1-1 all-time against Randolph-Macon having defeated the Yellow Jackets 84-75 in 1999-00 and falling in the first meeting, 84-77, during the 1967-68 season. Marietta and Wesley have played once with the Wolverines beating the Pioneers, 101-87, in 2007-08.
Marietta received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament after falling in the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament. The Pioneers enter the weekend with a 21-6 overall record for head coach
Jon VanderWal, in his 13th season at the helm.
The Pioneers are led by junior first team All-OAC wing
Jason Ellis (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding). Ellis averages 16.1 points per game is leads Marietta with 50 three-pointers. Junior post player
Tim Kreeger (Delphos, Ohio/Delphos St. Johns), a second team All-OAC selection averages 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per night. Sophomore point guard
Lukas Isaly (Clarington, Ohio/River), an honorable mention all-conference performer, averages 12.6 points and has 59 assists and 45 three-pointers on the season.
The College of New Jersey won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Lions, under the direction of fifth year head coach Matt Goldsmith, are 19-8 on the season.
The Lions feature a trio of All-NJAC honorees, including three-time selection and current Player of the Year, Randall Walko. The senior guard averages 21.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has 62 three-pointers and has dished out 66 assists. Junior forward Travis Jocelyn joined Walko on the first team after averaging 17.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. Senior forward Ryan Jensen, an honorable mention pick, 13.4 points and a team-best 7.9 boards.
Randolph-Macon won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles on their way to a 26-2 season record. Head coach Josh Merkel is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets and was named the ODAC Coach of the Year this winter.
The Yellow Jackets are led by two-time ODAC Player of the Year, Buzz Anthony. The senior guard averages 15.9 points and has 171 assists and 65 steals on the season. Freshman forward Miles Mallory earned Freshman of the Year honors in the ODAC after averaging 11.8 points and 7.7 rebounds. He also amassed 71 blocked shots.
Wesley College is under the direction of fifth-year head coach Dean Burrows. The Wolverines won the Atlantic East Conference Tournament championship and stand at 18-9 on the season. Burrows and his staff were named the AEC Staff of the Year.
The Wolverines are led by two-time AEC Player of the Year, Brian Cameron. The senior guard averages 28.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per outing. He has dished out 118 assists and has 62 three-pointers. Sophomore guard Greg Bloodsworth has nailed 66 three-pointers and averages 15.7 points and 3.0 rebounds.
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.
