ALLIANCE, Ohio — Marietta College's comeback bid fell just short as the Pioneers lost to No. 3 ranked Mount Union by the score of 73-71 Wednesday (Jan. 11) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The loss drops Marietta to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in the OAC. The Purple Raiders improve to 13-1 on the season and 6-1 in the OAC.
 
"I'm proud of the effort and fight our guys showed tonight. It's disheartening they aren't getting rewarded for it," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "Ultimately we need to be better on offense, but if we keep fighting like that, we will be just fine."
 
Mount Union's Jeffrey Mansfield converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 2:38 left in the game giving the Purple Raiders a 14-point lead, 67-53.
 
Two free throws from Lovenson Xavier started a 7-0 Pioneer run. A Jac Alexander steal led to a three-pointer from Jayden Bradshaw and then Sahmi Willoughby scored on a layup to make it 67-60 with 1:35 left on the clock.
 
After each team made a pair of free throws, Parrott drained a triple to make it a four-point game, 69-65, with 48 seconds remaining. The Pioneers were forced to foul, and Mount Union's Christian Parker converted one of two free throws.
 
Marietta quickly pushed the ball up the court and Jake Singleton hit a jumper and was fouled. He sank the free throw cutting the Purple Raider to two, 70-68, with 33 seconds on the clock. The Pioneers fouled Mansfield and he hit both free throws.
 
Parrott connected on his second three-pointer in the final minutes of the game to get Marietta within a point, 72-71. Once again Mansfield was fouled, and he made one of two attempts with 20 seconds left.
 
The Pioneers missed their shot on the ensuing possession and again were forced to send Mansfield to the line with just 1.8 seconds on the clock. Mansfield missed both free throws, but the Pioneers last-second full-court heave was fell short as time ran out.
 
Willoughby recorded a double-double to lead the Pioneers with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Alexander and Bradshaw scored 10 points each.
 
Parker led all scorers with 24 points to go along with nine rebounds and seven blocked shots. Darrell Newsome chipped in with 17 points, while Mansfield finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Marietta plays at Heidelberg on Saturday (Jan. 14) at 2:00 p.m.