WESTERVILLE, Ohio – No. 12 ranked Marietta College won a key Ohio Athletic Conference road game with a 76-54 victory over Otterbein University Wednesday (Jan. 29) evening. The Pioneers improve to 16-2 overall and remain tied for first place in the OAC with a 10-1 record. The Cardinals fall to 6-12 on the season and 3-8 in league play.

"It wasn't pretty and we didn't play our best basketball but road wins in the OAC don't come easy," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "We will definitely take the win."

Marietta opened the game strong behind a 7-2 run. Mike Hall got the game started with a layup on the opening possession, and five consecutive points behind a three from Lukas Isaly and a layup Tim Kreeger gave the Pioneers a five-point lead just over two minutes into the game.

Otterbein closed to within three, 11-8, and then went on a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the night, 15-11, at the 13:05 mark of the first half. A Caleb Hoyng layup stopped the run but the Cardinals managed to cling to a two-point lead, 20-18, with eight minutes left to play.

The Pioneers answered with a quick 6-0 run to regain a 24-20 edge. The run was led by the post players as Kreeger, Kyle Matoszkia, and Jake Montgomery all scored during the run.

After a bucket by Otterbein, Marietta ended the half on an 8-0 run and entered the intermission ahead, 34-22. The run was sparked by Isaly as he scored five of the seven points, including a jumper with a second remaining in the half.

The second half got off to a slow start. The Cardinals outscored the Pioneers, 14-10 through the first seven and a half minutes of play in the second half, but Marietta held a 44-36 edge.

The Pioneers responded with a 9-0 run that saw their lead swell to 53-36, at the 10:23 mark of the half, which forced an Otterbein timeout. The run was started by a three from Isaly, and capped by a dunk from Kreeger.

At the six minute mark the Cardinals went on an 8-2 run that trimmed the Marietta lead to 60-48 with just under four minutes remaining in the game.

A late 9-0 spurt for the Pioneers put the game away as they led, 73-52 with under a minute to play in the game. The run was led by four points from Kreeger and highlighted by a three from Jason Ellis.  Marietta won 76-54.

The Pioneers were led by Isaly and Kreeger as the duo each tallied 16 points, and Kreeger pulled down six rebounds. Mason Lydic added a spark off the bench as he had 15 points, and pulled down a game high eight rebounds.

Marietta will be back in action Saturday (Feb. 1) when they travel to take on John Carroll University. Tip off scheduled for 2 p.m.