MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 3 ranked Marietta College held on to defeat visiting Baldwin Wallace University 84-81 Saturday (Jan. 31) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The Pioneers had their hands full as the Yellow Jackets led for most of the second half and had a last-second shot that would have forced overtime.

Marietta improves to 19-0 overall and 12-0 in the OAC. The Pioneers need one more victory to tie the 1953-54 team's school record of 20 consecutive wins in a single season. BW drops to 13-6 overall and 7-5 in the OAC.

The first half was a back and forth as neither team led by more than five points. Marietta led 34-29 with 5:08 left in the first period on a pair of free throws from junior Eddy Grenert. BW answered with a 12-2 run to take a 41-36 lead with 1:27 remaining. Junior RaNeal Ewing hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 41-39 at halftime.

Baldwin Wallace maintained the lead through the first 13 minutes of the second half and led by as many as eight points, 61-53, with 13:04 left on the lock. Marietta went on a 14-2 run to earn its biggest lead of the game, 80-74, with 2:53 remaining.

Two free throws from Justin Roth goy BW within three, 84-81, with 33 seconds left in the game. The Yellow Jackets were forced to foul and Marietta failed to convert the front end of the bonus setting up BW's last second chance. Following timeouts from both schools, Roth's three-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

Ewing led five Pioneers in double figures with 19 points including three three-pointers. Grenert scored 15 points, while Keith Richardson added 14 points. Luis Garcia chipped in with 12 and Garrett Stephenson notched 10 points and a game-high six rebounds.

Roth hit three treys and finished with 17 points. Zach warner connected on four three-pointers scoring 14 points, while Jake Fetheroff recorded 15 points and five rebounds.

For the game, Marietta shot 55.9% (33-of-59) from the floor, 46.2% (6-of-13) from three-point range and 70.6% (12-of-17) at the line. Baldwin Wallace was 29-of-56 (51.8%) from the floor, 10-of-23 (43.5%) behind the arc and 13-of-13 (100.0%) at the line.

The Pioneers outrebounded Baldwin Wallace 30-25. The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over 18 times, while Marietta committed 14 turnovers.

Marietta plays at Capital University on Wednesday (Feb. 4) at 7:30 p.m.