WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Marietta College came from behind to defeat Otterbein University by the score of 66-61 Wednesday (Nov. 30) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The win was the Pioneers' 18th straight over the Cardinals.
 
Otterbein hit a three-pointer right out of the gate and raced out to an early seven-point lead, 9-2, three minutes into the game. The Cardinals never trailed in the first half but six three-pointers for Marietta kept Otterbein within striking distance. Neither team would lead by more than nine points the entire game.
 
A three-pointer from Cam Evans gave Otterbein a 37-29 lead with just over one minute left in the first half. Marietta's David Sanford drained a triple with nine seconds left to cut the deficit to five points, 37-32, at halftime.
 
Baskets from Brennen Crawford and Sahmi Willoughby and another Sanford three-pointer to open the second half tied the game at 39-39 three minutes into the period. Two free throws from Willoughby at the 16:00 mark gave Marietta its first lead of the game, 41-39.
 
Both teams suffered from cold shooting in the second half keeping any leads within one possession for the trailing team. Marietta shot 30% from the floor in the second half, while the Cardinals shot just 27%.
 
Lovenson Xavier nailed a three-pointer with 4:51 left in the game to give Marietta a 51-49 lead. The Pioneers never trailed again. Xavier connected on two more triples down the stretch help the Pioneers seal the victory.
 
Half of Marietta's 66 points came behind the arc as the Pioneers hit 11 three-pointers in the game. The Pioneers shot better from long range, 44%, than from inside the three-point line, 28%.
 
Willoughby notched his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Xavier finished with 13 points seven boards and a pair of blocked shots. Sanford chipped in with 10 points.
 
Evans led Otterbein with 19 points. Dallas Patrick and Alex Hannah each scored 10 points, while Julian Heckman finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Marietta travels to Ada, Ohio on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. game at Ohio Northern University.