Marietta evened its record at 7-7 overall and 2-5 in the OAC
with the win, while the loss sent Mount Union to 9-6 overall and
3-5 in the OAC.
The Purple Raiders cold start allowed Marietta to take a
16-3 lead to start the game. Mount Union battled back to take
a 23-22 lead on a Chris Switzer (Euclid/Stow-Munroe Falls) jumper
with 6:45 left in the period. Marietta raced right back
outscoring the Raiders, 16-6 to take the lead back out to nine
points, 38-29, then settled for a 41-33 edge at the half.
Mount Union would get a Luke Conley (Louisville/Louisville)
three-pointer to open the second half, but Marietta would then
score nine-straight points to take its largest lead of the
game at 50-36 with just over 17 minutes left in the
game. The Raiders cut the deficit down to four points,
71-67 with four minutes left but the rally stopped there as
Marietta would score seven of the next eight points to put the
game away and go on to the 13-point victory.
Marietta had four players in double figures including a
game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds from Kevin
Knab, while the Pioneers made their first 17 free throws
and finished the game 28-of-29 from the line.
Switzer had 20 points and freshman Ben Hodkinson
(Tippecanoe/Harrison Central) came off the bench with
13 to pace Mount Union.
The Raiders finish the first half of the OAC schedule Saturday
at 3 p.m. at Ohio Northern University in Ada.
