MARIETTA, Ohio – Marietta College held off a late charge from No. 9 Mount Union sweeping the season series from the Purple Raiders with a 93-89 victory Saturday (Feb. 20) evening in Ban Johnson Arena. The Pioneers sit atop the Ohio Athletic Conference standings with a 7-1 overall record and 7-1 in the OAC. Mount Union slips to 6-3 overall and 6-3 in the OAC.

"That's two great wins this weekend. Our kids just battled and made a lot of plays. We got a little tentative down the stretch, but Lukas (Isaly) was huge stepping up and knocking down all those free throws," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "They are a really good team with a ton of firepower and to take two from them on back to back nights is really unheard of."

Mount Union opened the game with a pair of quick buckets to lead 4-0 two minutes into the game. Marietta responded with a 7-0 run and grabbed a 7-4 edge at the 16:47 minute mark. The run was started by a layup from Jason Ellis and highlighted by a three from Brett Martin.

The teams traded baskets for the next seven minutes of play and the Pioneers maintained a 25-20 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play in the half. During the span Marietta got four points from Lukas Isaly, Jac Alexander and Kyle Matozskia.

After Marietta led 28-22, the Purple Raiders went on a 9-3 run and tied the game, 31-31, at the 6:46 minute mark of the opening period. The run was halted by a jumper from Isaly. The teams battled for the remainder of the half as the lead changed hands or the game was tied nine times in the final six minutes of play.

Mount Union scored the final five points of the half and the Pioneers entered the intermission behind 47-43.

The Purple Raiders pushed their lead to 53-46 early in the second half, but a pair of fast break layups from Mason Lydic, trimmed the lead to 53-50 at the 17:21 minute mark and forced a Mount Union timeout.

Out of the timeout, Marietta continued to fight back and took a two-point lead, 59-57, behind a three pointer from Isaly at the 14:37 minute mark of the half. A layup from Matoszkia pushed the margin to four points and forced another Purple Raider timeout.

Out of the break, the teams traded baskets until Marietta went on a 7-0 run that saw Matoszkia make a layup and Lydic convert three foul shots to lead 73-64 with nine minutes to play in the game.

The Pioneers maintained the lead and pushed it to as many as 13 points, 85-72, with just under five minutes left on the clock. A pair of Pioneer turnovers, coupled with 10 points from Collen Gurley in a span of 90 seconds, managed to get within two points, 98-87, with 30 seconds remaining. Isaly iced the game with four free throws in the final 20 seconds to give Marietta the 93-89 win.

The Pioneers were led by Isaly's 22 points and a pair of assists. Lydic pitched in with 19 points. Martin added 15 points and pulled down six rebounds in the game. Ellis had 12 points, seven rebounds and a team high four assists.

The Pioneers will return to the hardwood Friday (Feb. 26) when they host Capital University on Senior Night.