WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Otterbein University defeated Marietta College by the score of 71-64 Wednesday (Feb. 5) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The loss drops Marietta to 10-10 overall and 4-9 in the OAC. Otterbein improves to 11-9 on the season and 6-7 in the OAC.
Trailing by 12 at halftime, Marietta chipped away at the Cardinal lead to get within one point, 56-55, with 5:16 left in the game. The Pioneers used an 11-2 run midway through the period to get within striking distance.
Two free throws from
Jayden Bradshaw (Blanchester, Ohio/Fayetteville-Perry) with 1:03 left on the clock made it a two-point game, 64-62. Otterbein was fouled on its next possession and Cam Evans converted two free throws pushing the margin back to four.
The Pioneers failed to score and was forced to put the Cardinals on the line in the final 30 seconds. Evans and Jarius Jones both sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to secure the 71-64 victory for Otterbein.
Marietta raced out to an 11-0 lead to start the game as
Frank Waganfeald (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) hit a three-pointer and a jumper and Bradshaw added a pair of layups. The Cardinals responded with a 13-2 run to knot the score, 13-13, seven minutes into the half.
Otterbein got rolling in the second half of the first period building a 12-point lead at halftime.
Waganfeald led the Pioneers with 19 points and grabbed five rebounds.
De'Ovion Price (River Rouge, Mich./River Rouge) added 14 points and five assists, while Bradshaw finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
Jones notched a double-double to lead the Cardinals with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jared Kreager had 14 points and seven boards. Chase Garito chipped in with 13 points, while Evans added 10 points.
Marietta hosts Heidelberg University on Saturday (Feb. 8) at 3:00 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 X and Instagram.
