MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College took a major step towards the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball regular season crown with a dominating 106-81 blowout of #23-ranked University of Mount Union Wednesday (Feb. 10) evening in Ban Johnson Arena. The Pioneers, ranked #8 nationally, moves to 20-2 overall and 14-1 in the OAC. The Purple Raiders fall to 15-6 on the season and 11-3 in the OAC.
Marietta moved into a tie for first place in the OAC standings with #4-ranked John Carroll University. The Blue Streaks (21-1 overall, 14-1 OAC) suffered their first loss of the season as Baldwin Wallace pulled off the 79-78 upset on Wednesday.
Sophomore Dillon Young scored 16 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 24 points to lead all scorers. Young drained five three-pointers and dished out seven assists. A.J. Edwards hit 8-of-13 shots to score 18 points, while Luis Garcia hit three triples and finished with 16 markers.
Eddy Grenert came off the bench to score 11 points hitting three from downtown. Nate Walker and Anthony Wallace each chipped in with 10 points. Brennan McKean pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
Mount Union was led by JJ Kukura's 22 points. Jarrett Ruffin added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Edwards set the tone early with a slam-dunk for the first two points of the game. Young took over after that hitting four of his five three-pointers in the first half.
The Purple Raiders battled in the opening period and built a seven point lead, 17-10, on trey from Kukura with 12:46 left in the half. Marietta chipped away at the Mount lead and went back in front, 26-25, on another triple from Young. MC finished the half on a 17-8 run to lead by 11 points, 52-41, at the break.
The Pioneers wasted no time putting the game away in the second half. Marietta opened the period with a 15-6 run pushing the lead to 20 points, 67-47, less than five minutes into the half.
After pushing the margin to as many as 34 points, Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal cleared his bench. 11 different Pioneers scored in the game as MC eclipsed the 100-point plateau for the fourth time this season.
For the game, Marietta shot a sizzling 55.2% (37-of-67) from the floor, 56.7% (17-of-30) from three-point range and 68.2% (15-of-22) at the line. The Purple Raiders were 30-of-66 (45.5%) from the floor, 8-of-25 (32.0%) from three-point range and 13-of-19 (68.4%) at the line.
Marietta outrebounded Mount Union 41-35. Each team committed 12 turnovers.
Marietta hosts John Carroll on Saturday (Feb. 13) at 3:00 p.m.