MARIETTA, Ohio — Five Pioneers scored in double figures and the Marietta College men's basketball team overcame its toughest test of the season to post a 79-77 Ohio Athletic Conference victory over host Ohio Northern University Saturday (Dec. 18) afternoon at the ONU Sports Center in Ada, Ohio. [Box Score]

The victory kept fourth-year Head Coach Jon VanderWal's program (9-0) undefeated and more importantly improved its record to a league-best 4-0. The Polar Bears fell to 5-4, 3-2 in the OAC.

Marietta relied on its potent aerial attack to maintain the advantage throughout the first 20 minutes. The Pioneers, who entered the week ranked second in the country in field goal percentage, connected on their first eight three pointers and shot 88.9% (8-of-9) from long range to take a 41-36 lead into intermission. Sophomore sharpshooter Jacob Owens (Mansfield/Mansfield) connected on 4-of-4 from deep to score all 13 of his points in the half.

Marietta didn't settle for the long distance shot in the final 20 minutes. Jumpers by freshman Tyler Hammond (Cleveland/St. Ignatius), who led the squad with 20 points, built the Pioneer lead up to nine points on two occasions during the first four minutes of the second half.

Ohio Northern fought back to tie the game at 52-52 with 14:11 to play in the game. The Pioneers bounced back with a 12-2 run over the next five minutes to increase their lead to 10 a game-high points, 64-54.

The Polar Bears once again clawed their way back to as close as one point, 76-75, with 25 seconds to go. Marietta, however connected on 3-of-4 from the charity stripe and withstood a last second shot by Ohio Northern to escape with the 79-77 victory.

Junior Trevor Halter (Malvern/Malvern) added 17 points and junior Kevin Knab (Lakewood/Lakewood) and sophomore Tyler Worstell (Prospect/Franklin Heights) both contributed 10 points to join Hammond and Owens in double figures. Knab also pitched in with a game-high nine rebounds for the Pioneers, who finished 28-of-52 (53.8%) from the floor, 9-of-15 (60.0%) from beyond the arc and 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the free throw line.

Scott Schnelle led the Polar Bears with 21 points and seven rebounds. Joe Staley added 18 points and eight boards, while Jared Horstman had 11 points for Ohio Nothern, who went 29-of-54 (53.7%) from the field, 6-of-19 (31.6%) from long range and 13-of-18 (72.2%) from the charity stripe.

The Polar Bears finished with a 30-28 edge on the boards, while committing 11 turnovers compared to the Pioneers' nine giveaways.

Marietta returns to action Wednesday (Dec. 22) evening when the Pioneers play host to Wilmington College. Tip-off inside Ban Johnson Arena is slated for 7:30 p.m.