MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College used a big second half to run away from an overmatched Muskingum University team as the Pioneers posted a 96-60 win Wednesday (Jan. 4) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. Marietta improves to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the OAC. The Muskies fall to 0-12 on the season and 0-5 in conference play.
 
Muskingum used the three-point shot to stay within striking distance of the Pioneers in the first half. The Muskies hit six shots from behind the arc in the first period and trailed by nine, 39-30, at halftime.
 
Marietta won the tip and got a quick jumper from Lovenson Xavier. The Muskies answered with a three-pointer from Logan Stotzer for their only lead of the night. Marietta scored the next nine points for an early 11-3 lead.
 
A jumper from Jac Alexander midway through the first period gave Marietta its biggest lead of the half, 23-10. Muskingum answered with a 15-6 run to trim the deficit to four points, 29-25, with 7:39 left on the clock.
 
The second half was all Navy Blue and White. The Pioneers poured in 57 points and led by as many as 43 points. Marietta doubled its lead in the opening minutes of the second half scoring the first nine points of the period. Xavier hit a jumper and a three-pointer to get things started.
 
Over the next seven minutes, Marietta went on a 24-6 run blowing the game open. A free throw from Jake Singleton at the 10:12 mark gave the Pioneers a 34-point advantage, 72-38. The margin hovered around the 40-point mark for several minutes and aa layup from Carter McCorkle with 3:21 left on the clock gave Marietta its biggest lead of the night, 91-48.
 
14 different Pioneers scored in the game. Xavier and Singleton led Marietta with 13 points each. Frank Waganfeald added 10 points, while Sahmi Willoughby chipped in with nine. Cooper Parrott grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with six points. Waganfeald grabbed six rebounds and Xavier and Willoughby pulled down five apiece.
 
Stotzer led the Muskies with nine points. Duane Davis and Ethan Taylor finished with eight and seven points, respectively.
 
Marietta plays at Wilmington College on Saturday (Jan. 7) at 2:00 p.m.