MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 9 ranked Marietta College defeated Ohio Northern by the score of 74-65 Sunday (Feb. 22) to claim the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Basketball regular season championship and the top seed in next week's tournament. The title is Marietta's sixth OAC regular season crown and second under head coach Jon VanderWal.

The Pioneers will have the home court advantage throughout the league tournament. Marietta is a perfect 12-0 in Ban Johnson Arena this season. Overall, the Pioneers finished the regular season 23-2 and posted a 16-2 OAC record.

Ohio Northern (12-13 overall, 7-11 OAC) jumped out to an early lead. Following a Pioneer bucket to start the game, the Polar Bears went on a 12-3 run and lead by seven with 15:24 left in the first half.

With ONU leading by six midway through the period, Marietta got its offensive attack on track and, sparked by 10 straight points from RaNeal Ewing, went on a 14-0 run to take an eight point lead, 25-17, at the 6:55 mark. The Pioneers led 31-28 at the break.

The teams traded scoring spurts early in the second half. Ohio Northern started with a 12-3 run to reclaim the lead, 40-37, at the 17:28 mark. Marietta responded with a 9-0 run of its own and never trailed again. The Pioneers put the game away with an 11-0 run capped by a jumper from Eddy Grenert with 4:03 left on the clock.

Ewing led four Pioneers in double figures with 19 points. Ewing added six rebounds and three steals. Grenert notched a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 10 boards. Keith Richardson finished with 16 points and four assists, while Andy Dollman chipped in with 10 points and four assists.

Konnor Baker led ONU with 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. Isaiah Roux had 12 points and five boards and Travis Feitshans finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

For the game, Marietta shot 40.3% (27-of-67) from the floor, 17.9% (5-of-28) behind the arc and 68.2% (15-of-22) at the line. Ohio Northern was 25-of-69 (36.1%) from the floor, 3-of-17 (17.6%) from three-point range and 12-of-13 (92.3%) at the line.

The Pioneers outrebounded ONU 47-39. Ohio Northern turned the ball over 14 times, while Marietta committed 13 turnovers.

No. 1 seed Marietta hosts No. 8 seed Capital University in the first round of the OAC Tournament on Tuesday (Feb. 24) at 7:30 p.m.