COLUMBUS, Ohio — Marietta College led from start to finish as the No. 18 ranked Pioneers defeated Capital University, 78-65, Wednesday (Jan. 18) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball. Marietta improves to 12-4 overall and 7-2 in the OAC. Capital falls to 9-7 on the season and 4-5 in league play.

The Pioneers remain in a three-way tie for first place in the OAC standings with John Carroll University and Ohio Northern University. Mount Union is one game back at 6-3 in the OAC.

Marietta dominated the paint outscoring the Crusaders 44-24 inside. All-American A.J. Edwards led all scorers with 25 points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Keith Richardson scored 16 points and dished out six assists. Anthony Wallace chipped in with 10 points and five boards, while Dillon Young and Kyle Dixon grabbed six rebounds each.

Nate Boone led the Crusaders with 13 points. Tyrel Jackson chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds. Joey Weingartner and Austin Schreck finished with eight points each.

Marietta scored the first nine points of the game and led by eight points, 35-27, at halftime. The Crusaders scored the first five points of the second half to get within three points, 35-32.

A layup from Richardson at the 14:42 mark pushed Marietta's lead into double digits, 50-40.  Capital briefly cut the deficit to nine, but an 8-0 run from the Pioneers made it a 17-point game, 60-43, with 9:54 remaining.

The Crusaders refused to go away quietly and whittled the MC lead down to six points, 69-63, with just under five minutes left in the game. Marietta held Capital scoreless for the next four minutes and finished the game on a 9-2 run to secure the victory.

For the game, Marietta shot 45.6% (31-of-68) from the floor, 26.3% (5-of-19) from three-point range and 61.1% (11-of-18) at the free throw line. Capital was 22-of-55 (40.0%) from the floor, 8-of-23 (34.8%) behind the arc and 13-of-20 (65.0%) at the charity stripe.

Marietta edged the Crusaders on the glass, 43-37. Capital committed 15 turnovers, while the Pioneers turned the ball over just eight times.

Marietta hosts John Carroll University on Saturday (Jan. 21) at 3 p.m.