DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Marietta College men's basketball team escaped with a 76-73 win over Albion College in the consolation game of the Defiance College Purple and Gold Tournament Monday (Dec. 30) evening. Marietta moves to 9-2 on the season, while the Britons fall to 6-5.

The game looked to be a mismatch in the first half as No. 15-ranked Marietta built a 23-point lead, 41-18, with 1:47 remaining in the opening period. The Britons made the first two buckets of the game and then went ice cold making only five field goals over the final 17:40 of the first half. The Pioneers led 46-25 at the break.

Marietta maintained its 21-point lead through the first six minutes of the second period, but a 13-2 Albion run cut the margin to 10 points, 59-49, at the 9:28 mark. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes with the Pioneers clinging to an 11-point lead, 67-56, with 7:37 remaining.

Albion refused to go away quietly and outscored Marietta 12-2 over the next six-plus minutes to trim the Pioneer lead to one point, 69-68, with 1:05 left in the game. A jumper from Andy Dollman and an old-fashioned three-point play from RaNeal Ewing pushed the margin back to six, 74-68, with 18 seconds left on the clock.

A Marietta turnover and two Pioneer fouls allowed the Britons to again get within a point, 74-73, with three seconds remaining. Albion was forced to foul and Dollman connected on both free throws to secure the win.

Ewing led four Pioneers in double figures with 16 points. Dollman finished with 12 points, while Tyler Hammond and Luis Garcia each had 10 points. Hammond dished out a game-high eight assists and five different Pioneers grabbed four rebounds in the game.

Herron led all scorers with 22 points and also pulled down a game-best nine rebounds. Ridgell chipped in with 15 points and six boards.

Albion won the battle of the boards, 42-39. The Britons also had a decided advantage at the free throw line taking 34 freebies to just 13 for the Pioneers. Marietta forced 11 Albion turnovers and committed only seven.

For the game, Marietta shot 43.5% (30-of-69) from the floor, 26.9% (7-of-26) from three-point range and 69.2% (9-of-13) at the line. Albion was 22-of-54 (40.7%) from the floor, 5-of-17 (29.4%) behind the arc and 24-of-34 (70.6%) at the charity stripe.

Marietta travels to Ada on Wednesday (Jan. 8) for a 7:00 p.m. tip at Ohio Northern University. Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at pioneers.marietta.edu.