Matchup
No. 2 seed Mount Union will host No. 4 seed Marietta in the championship game of the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday, February 25 at 3 p.m. in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex in Alliance.

Fans can follow with the radio broadcast on WDPN AM 1310 and online with Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats

You can buy your tickets here.

The Purple Raiders (24-2, 16-2 OAC) are first in the OAC in scoring offense at 83.3 points per game and lead the conference in scoring defense allowing just 69.4 points per game.

Junior Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) leads the team in scoring and is fourth in the OAC averaging 17.4 points per game, he also leads the team and is second in the conference in rebounds averaging 7.8 per game. Parker also leads the conference in blocks, averaging 2.0 a game and senior Braedon Poole (McDonald) is third in the conference with 1.4 blocks per game. Senior Collen Gurley (Akron / Hoban) and Parker are tied for first in the OAC in steals with 1.7 per game. Seniors Chris Painter Jr. (Akron / St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Darrell Newsom (Twinsburg) are first and second in the OAC for three-point percentage shooting 50 and 48.6-percent respectively.

The Pioneers (17-10, 10-8 OAC) are fourth in the OAC in scoring offense at 77.6 points per game and are fourth in the OAC in scoring defense allowing 73.3 points per game.

Marietta is led by David Sanford who scores 12.3 points per game and Cooper Parrott who averages 11.8 points per game. Sahmi Willoughby leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.9 rebounds per game and is fifth in the OAC in the category.

OAC Tournament History

It is the 63rd OAC Tournament appearance for Mount Union as the Raiders have a 39-58 record and won titles in 1997, 2015 and 2020.

Marietta is making its 38th OAC Tournament appearance and have a 43-55 record and won titles in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2022.

Mount Union and Marietta have met eight previous times in the OAC Tournament with the Raiders holding a 5-3 lead in tournament games.

2022- No. 2 Mount Union 61, No. 1 Marietta 63 (Finals)

2017- No. 4 Mount Union 79, No. 1 Marietta 100 (Semifinals)

2015- No. 3 Mount Union 85, No. 1 Marietta 81 (Finals)

2013- No. 4 Mount Union 76, No. 2 Marietta 80 (OT) (Finals)

2002- No. 3 Mount Union 84, No. 6 Marietta 72 (Quarterfinals)

1999- No. 9 Mount Union 79, No. 8 Marietta 67 (First Round)

1995- No. 8 Mount Union 60, No. 9 Marietta 52 (First Round)

1991- No. 9 Mount Union 93, No. 8 Marietta 83 (First Round)

Coaches

Mike Fuline (Kent State '98) is 217-97 (.694) in his 12th season at Mount Union.  Fuline has led Mount Union to six 20-win seasons, OAC regular season titles in 2013-14, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2022-23, OAC Tournament titles and NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2015 and 2020. Before coming to Mount Union, Fuline spent eight years as a high school head coach at Rootstown and Massillon Jackson.  His 2010 Jackson team won the OHSAA Division I State Championship.

Jon VanderWal (Albion '01) is 313-125 (.715) in his 15th season at Marietta. VanderWal has led the Pioneers to nine 20-win season, OAC regular season titles in 2010-11, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21, OAC Tournament titles in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2022. He has also led Marietta to NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2011 and 2017, along with Elite Eight appearances in 2015 and 2019 and a Final Four appearance in 2022. Before arriving at Marietta, VanderWal served as an assistant at Ohio Wesleyan University.