MARIETTA, Ohio – The eighth ranked Marietta College men's basketball team defeated Muskingum University 95-73, inside Ban Johnson Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 8) evening. The win improves the Pioneers record to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Fighting Muskies fall to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in OAC action.

"It was tough getting going tonight. We couldn't find the bottom of the net at all," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "I felt that we were playing well and that's what I told our guys in that first timeout. We didn't get frustrated and stayed the course. And once we got it going, we got it going really well and played very good on both ends of the floor."

Marietta was led by Caleb Hoying as he notched his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Tim Kreeger had a team leading 21 points, on 10-15 shooting from the field. Jason Ellis added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers.

Junior guard Marcus Dempsey, the OAC's leading scorer averaging over 30 points per game, led the Muskies with 28 points. However, the Pioneers held sharpshooter to just 3-of-13 from three-point range and 10-of-22 shooting overall. Tanner Gensler added 12 points and Rey Singleton had 10 points.

Muskingum jumped out of the gates and went on a 7-0 run to open the game forcing an early Marietta timeout, three minutes into the game.  Out of the break, a 7-2 Pioneer run trimmed the Fighting Muskies lead to 9-7, and Marietta forced a Muskingum timeout with 14 minutes to play in the half. The run was sparked by Kreeger and Hoying, as each knocked down a basket.

After the break, the teams traded buckets and the game was tied at 17 points apiece with 11 minutes remaining in the half. The Pioneers grabbed the lead with a 9-0 run highlighted by four more points from Kreeger.

The teams battled through the middle of the first half and Marietta maintained a 34-23 edge, with just over five minutes to play in the half. The Pioneers went on a late 11-0 run and took a 45-26 lead, with just over a minute to play. The run was started by Jake Montgomery and finished off by nine points from Kreeger. Marietta closed out the half, and led 45-31 at the intermission on the strength of 17 first half points from Kreeger.

The Pioneers outscored the Fighting Muskies 7-2 early in the second half to lead, 52-33, which forced a Muskingum timeout at the 17:33 minute mark. The early offense came from Ellis and Hoying.

Marietta maintained its double-digit advantage through the middle of the half and led, 68-49 with just over 11 minutes to play in game. The Pioneers held their edge behind three-point shooting from Mason Lydic and Ryan Reidy.

The Pioneers never let Muskingum get close down the stretch. Marietta put the game away with a pair of foul shots from Christian James, and a jumper from Sahmi Willoughby. The Pioneers won the game, 95-73.

Marietta was led by Hoying as he notched his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Kreeger had a team leading 21 points, on 10-15 shooting from the field. Ellis added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers.

Marietta will return to the hardwood on Saturday (Jan. 11) when they host Heidelberg University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.