ADA, Ohio — Ohio Northern University led wire to wire as the Polar Bears knocked off No. 13 Marietta College, 101-91, Saturday (Jan. 7) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. ONU improves to 6-7 overall and 4-2 in the OAC. Marietta slips to 9-4 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.

The Polar Bears came our firing and never cooled off. ONU hit its first four shots to grab a quick 10-2 lead forcing Marietta to play from behind all afternoon. The Pioneers would get within five points twice, but trailed by nine, 47-38, at halftime.

The lead hovered around 10 points for the first eight minutes of the second half. Jumpers from Dillon Young and Mel Shuler cut the deficit to six, 66-60, with 11:25 left in the game.

ONU answered with an 8-1 run to push the margin back into double figures, 74-61, midway through the half. A three-point play from Nate Burger extended the Polar Bear lead to 15 points, 87-72, with five minutes left on the clock.

Marietta refused to go away quietly and cut the lead back to six points, 96-90, on a pair of free throws from A.J. Edwards with 45 seconds remaining.

The Polar Bears got another three-point play when Aron Thress was fouled on a layup and sank the free throw making it a nine-point lead. Marietta was forced to foul and Devon Allen made two from the line to secure the victory for Ohio Northern.

Edwards led all scorers with 30 points. He also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Keith Richardson scored 21 points, while Anthony Wallace and Kyle Dixon each tallied 12. Dillon Young dished out eight assists.

Five Polar Bears finished in double figures with Thress, Allen and Konnor baker all scoring 19 points. Nate Burger added 17 points and Joey DiOrio notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

For the game, Marietta shot 54.7% (35-of-64) from the floor, 22.2% (4-of-18) from three-point range and 63.0% (17-of-27) at the free throw line. The Polar Bears were 35-of-59 (59.3%) from the floor, 12-of-22 (54.5%0 behind the arc and 19-of-26 (73.1%) at the line.

The Pioneers edged Ohio Northern on the glass, 34-28. Marietta committed 12 turnovers, while ONU turned the ball over 13 times in the game.

After four straight games on the road, Marietta returns home to host the University of Mount Union on Wednesday (Jan. 11) for a 7:30 p.m. game.