UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — No. 10-ranked John Carroll University held off No. 8 Marietta College Saturday (Dec. 19) afternoon by the score of 82-78 in a battle of Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball leaders. The Blue Streaks remain perfect on the season with a 9-0 overall and 4-0 league record. The Pioneers drop to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the OAC.

As expected, the game was close the entire way with neither team able to build a double-digit lead. Each side led by nine points at some point as the game featured six ties and 18 lead changes.

Senior Brennan McKean nailed a three-pointer with 4:13 left in the game to knot the score at 71. John Carroll answered with a trey from David Linane to regain the lead, The Blue Streaks pushed the margin to five points, 78-73, with just over two minutes remaining.

The Pioneers got within two points twice in the waning seconds but JCU responded each time. Linane hit a pair of free throws with one second on the clock to ice the game for John Carroll.

Marietta's starting lineup scored all but five of the Pioneers' points on the day. Luis Garcia sank five three-pointers and finished with a team-best 21 points. Dillon Young scored a career-high 19 points hitting five three-pointers.

A.J. Edwards and notched a double-double with 12 boards to go along with his 14 markers, while McKean chipped in with 13 points and three from behind the arc.

Linane led all scorers with 27 points including five three-pointers, five assists and four steals. Will Starks finished with 13 points, while Simon Kucharewicz had 10 rebounds.

For the game, Marietta shot 43.3% (26-of-60) from the floor, 43.6% (17-of-39) from three-point range and 75.0% (9-of-12) at the line. John Carroll was 34-of-73 (46.6%) from the floor, 11-of-28 (39.3%) behind the arc and 3-of-10 (30.0%) from the line.

John Carroll outrebounded the Pioneers 45-34 including 17 off the offensive glass. Marietta turned the ball over 14 times, while the Blue Streaks committed 12 turnovers.

Marietta is back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec. 29-30) in the Wooster "Mose" Hole/Kiwanis Tournament. The Pioneers play Mount St. Joseph on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.