TIFFIN, Ohio — No. 8 ranked Marietta College sank 27 free throws en route to a 79-72 win at Heidelberg University Saturday (Dec. 12) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The Pioneers improve to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the OAC. Heidelberg slips to 5-4 on the season and 1-2 in league play.

Free throws were the difference in the game as Marietta shot 32 times from the charity stripe including 27 in the second half. The Student Princes did little to help their own cause getting whistled for four technical fouls in the second half. MC sank seven of the eight free throws from the technicals, the final margin of victory.

Heidelberg raced out to an early 8-0 lead but back-to-back three-pointers from A.J. Ireland completed a 14-2 Marietta run. Ireland's first trifecta put the Pioneers in front, 11-10, with just over 11 minutes left in the opening period. Marietta would not relinquish the lead the rest of the day.

The Pioneers used a 12-2 run to push the lead to 11 points, 26-15, with 6:55 left in the half. Heidelberg trimmed the deficit to seven at halftime trailing 35-28.

The Student Princes shot over 54% from the floor in the second half to stay within striking distance of Marietta. Each time Heidelberg would close the gap fouls would allow MC to extend its lead.

A late three-pointer from Brennan McKean and five-of-six free throws down the stretch allowed Marietta to hold off the Student Princes. Two throws from Eddy Grenert with seven seconds remaining put the game away.

Luis Garcia was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line and led the Pioneers with 21 points. Grenert finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Ireland chipped in with 11 points and five boards. A.J. Edwards added nine points and nine rebounds.

Heidelberg's DeAvery Collins led all scorers with 24 points including four three-pointers. Kiere Bennie scored 13 points, while Ben Jones and Myron Prewitt added 12 and 10, respectively. Prewitt grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

For the game, Marietta shot 36.7% (22-of-60) from the floor, 30.8% (8-of-26) from three-point range and 84.4% (27-of-32) at the line. Heidelberg was 31-of-69 (44.9%) from the floor, 7-of-25 (28.0%) behind the arc and 3-of-3 (100.0%) at the line.

Marietta outrebounded the Student Princes 44-36. The Pioneers committed 15 turnovers, while Heidelberg turned the ball over 11 times.

Marietta returns home to host Baldwin Wallace University on Wednesday (Dec. 16). Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Berea.