BEXLEY, Ohio — No. 6 ranked Marietta College pulled away from Capital University in the second half Wednesday (Jan. 19) evening to post an 81-69 win in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action.
The Pioneers improve to 13-2 overall and have won 11 straight games. Marietta remains in first place in the OAC standings with an 8-0 league record. Capital falls to 8-7 on the season and 3-5 in the OAC.
"It's never easy on the road in this league," Marietta head coach
Jon VanderWal said. "Capital came out and out-toughed us in the first half. To our guy's credit, we made the plays in the second half. We will take it."
Capital grabbed the early lead and held it though much of the first half. Back-to-back three-pointers from Ryan Roth and David Sanford put the Comets up by eight points, 20-12, with nine minutes left in the opening period.
Marietta answered with a 18-2 run to take a six-point lead, 28-22 at the 5:34 mark.
Jason Ellis (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) scored seven points and
Jac Alexander (Port Clinton, Ohio/Oak Harbor) had six points during the run.
Capital chipped away at the margin and a three-pointer from Ryan Suever as time ran out in the half tied the game, 37-37, at halftime.
The Comets scored first in the second half only to see Marietta score the next 10 to go back in front, 47-39, less than three minutes into the period.
Tim Kreeger (Delphos, Ohio/Delphos St. Johns) converted a pair of free throws and added a layup, while Ellis and
Lukas Isaly (Clarington, Ohio/River) each buried a three-pointer.
MC pushed the margin into double figures and a three-pointer from
Ryan Reidy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop McNicholas) made it a 16-point margin, 61-45, with 11:10 left in the game. An Isaly jumper three minutes later gave Marietta its biggest lead of the night, 18 points, 67-49.
A pair of layups from
Brett Martin (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington) and five free throws from Isaly down the stretch secured the victory.
Isaly led all scorers with 23 points. Ellis finished with 14 points and Alexander chipped in with 11 points. Isaly, Ellis, Kreeger and
Brennen Crawford (Pittsburgh, Pa./Kiski School) each grabbed four rebounds for the Pioneers.
Tyler Schreck led the Comets with 13 points and nine rebounds. Kaleb Crawford scored 12 points and Alex Eyink added 10 points.
Marietta plays at Ohio Northern University on Saturday (Jan. 22). Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
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.
