ADA, Ohio – No. 9 ranked Marietta College had five players score in double figures in a 90-77 win at Ohio Northern University Friday (Feb. 26) evening. The Pioneers improve to 8-1 overall and 8-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Ohio Northern slips to 3-5 on the season and 3-5 in OAC games.

"Offensively, we executed really well but we definitely could have been better at the defensive end," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "But at the end of the day, any road win in this conference is a great win."

Marietta led 4-1 early behind buckets from Tim Kreeger and Mason Lydic. Ohio Northern tied the game at 4-4, but Marietta answered with a quick 5-0 run to lead 9-4, four minutes into the half. The run was started by a layup from Kyle Matozskia and capped by a three from Lydic.

The teams traded baskets for five minutes of play and the Pioneers held a 17-16 edge with 11 minutes to play in the half. Marietta opened up a 26-16 lead behind a 9-0 run. The run was a well-rounded attack as Kreeger, Jason Ellis, Lukas Isaly and Brett Martin all scored.

The Pioneers maintained their lead for the remainder of the half. Ohio Northern cut the lead to six points, 36-30, with four minutes to play. Marietta regained its momentum and went into the half ahead, 49-37. The late MC offense came from Jac Alexander and Copper Parrott.

Over the first four minutes of play in the second half, Ohio Northern trimmed the Pioneer lead to 55-48. Marietta answered with an 10-2 run that pushed its lead to 65-50 with 14 minutes to play in the game. The run was highlighted by five points from Jason Ellis.

The teams battled back and forth for the rest of the game as the Pioneers never surrendered their double-digit advantage. The closest the Polar Bears got was 81-71 with six minutes to play in the game. The largest Marietta lead was 90-74 with under a minute to play, when Isaly hit a foul shot. The Pioneers won the game, 90-77.

Marietta was led by Ellis as he tied for a team high in points with 17 and pulled down six rebounds in the game. Lydic added 17 points, four rebounds and four assists. Isaly, Kreeger and Martin all pitched in with 10 points in the game. Isaly had a game high in steals with three.

Marietta returns to the court on Saturday (Feb. 27) for the regular season finale against Ohio Northern University, with tip off scheduled for 6 p.m.