MARIETTA, Ohio — No. 4 ranked Mount Union posted a 77-68 win over Marietta College Wednesday (Feb. 8) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball. The Purple Raiders improve to 20-2 overall and 13-2 in the OAC. Marietta falls to 13-9 on the season and 8-7 in league play.
 
The Pioneers grabbed the early lead and maintained a small advantage through most of the first half. David Sanford hit a three-pointer with 10:35 left in the opening period to give Marietta a seven-point lead, 17-10.
 
After trading baskets to make it 19-12, the Purple Raiders scored seven straight points to tie the game at 19-19. Two jumpers from Collen Gurley and a three-pointer from Darrell Newsome accounted for the Mount Union scoring.
 
Over the next four minutes the teams traded one and two-point leads. A layup from Logan Hill tied the game, 26-26, with 2:44 left on the clock. Back-to-back triples and two free throws from Gurley gave Mount Union an eight-point lead, 34-36, with 1:28 remaining.
 
Sanford hit two of three free throws with less than a second on the clock to cut the Mount Union lead to six points, 36-30, at halftime.
 
Marietta played from behind the entire second half as the Pioneers got within four points but couldn't get any closer. Mount Union extended the margin to as many as 12 points. The Pioneers were forced to foul down the stretch, but Mount Union converted eight of 10 free throws to hold off any Pioneer comeback.
 
Gurley led all scorers with 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Jeffrey Mansfield finished with 14 points, while Corey Hudson added 11 points.
 
Frank Waganfeald led the Pioneers with 15 points. Cooper Parrott chipped in with 13 points and Sanford finished with 12 points.
 
Marietta hosts Wilmington on Saturday (Feb. 11). Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.