MARIETTA, Ohio — After eliminating Otterbein University in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals, the Marietta College men's basketball team will now face top-seeded John Carroll University on Thursday (Feb. 24) in the semifinals.
No. 2 seed Mount Union hosts No. 3 seed Heidelberg in the other semifinal. The championship will be played at the highest remaining seed on Saturday.
Marietta, the No. 5 seed, posted a 73-67 win at No. 4 seed Otterbein improving to 17-9 on the season. John Carroll, ranked third nationally, is 23-2 on the season and won the OAC regular season championship with a 17-1 league record.
The Blue Streaks swept the season series from the Pioneers. John Carroll won 81-71 in Marietta and 82-77 in University Heights. Marietta is looking for a repeat of last season when the Pioneers knocked off No. 1 seed John Carroll on their home court in the semifinals by the score of 79-75.
Senior post player
Sahmi Willoughby (Groveport, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) leads the Pioneers in scoring and rebounding averaging 12.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He also leads the Pioneers with 26 blocked shots. In Marietta's regular season finale, Willoughby grabbed 24 rebounds setting the school single game record.
Senior guard
David Sanford (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield) has started 18 games and is second in the team averaging 11.5 points per game. He leads Marietta with 52 three-pointers and 40 steals. Senior point guard
Jac Alexander (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) has overcome an early season injury and is averaging 10.4 points per night. He is Marietta's top free throw shooter converting 80.3% of his free throw attempts. Alexander also leads the team with 76 assists.
John Carroll is led by a trio of junior guards, and all three are dangerous three-point shooters. Luke Frazier averages 18.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, both tops on the team. He also leads the Blue Streaks with 29 blocked shots and is second with 34 three-pointers. Luke Chicone averages 18.6 points and 4.0 rebounds. He leads the team with 43 three-pointers, 131 assists and 53 steals. Chase Toppin averages 10.9 points and 3.6 rebounds. He has 26 three-pointers and is second on the team with 57 assists and 40 steals.
Tip off in University Heights is set for 7:00 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets
HERE.
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.
