ALLIANCE, Ohio — No. 15 ranked Mount Union defeated Marietta College by the score of 92-84 Wednesday (Jan. 17) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The Pioneers slip to 11-5 overall and 5-4 in the OAC. Mount Union improves to 14-2 on the season and 7-2 in the OAC.
 
Mount Union opened the game with three straight three-pointers grabbing the early lead. The Purple Raiders shot a sizzling 59% from the floor in the first half building a 22-point lead in the first 12 minutes of the game.
 
Marietta chipped away at the deficit. Back-to-back three-pointers from Frank Waganfeald and Sahmi Willoughby trimmed the Purple Raider lead to 12 points, 53-41, with 1:36 left in the first half. Mount Union took a 56-43 lead into halftime.
 
The Pioneers stayed hot from behind the arc in the opening minutes of the second half. Two three-pointers from De'Ovion Price and one each from David Sanford and Waganfeald, got Marietta within five points, 62-57, less than four minutes into the period.
 
A triple from Sanford at the 5:19 mark capped a 12-2 Pioneer run and tied the game, 79-79. Sanford was fouled on the shot and went to the free throw line with a chance to give Marietta its first lead of the night. The free throw was off the mark, but Waganfeald got the offensive rebound and missed the follow-up shot.
 
Mount Union got fouled on the ensuing possession and made one of two free throws. The Purple Raiders got a stop on Marietta's next possession and then scored on a jumper from Corey Hudson to go up by three, 82-79.
 
Following a bucket from Jac Alexander, Mount Union got baskets from Christian Parker and Darrell Newsome extending the lead to five, 86-81, with two minutes left on the clock. After trading baskets on the next two possessions, Marietta was forced to foul. Hudson converted four free throws in the final seconds to seal the 92-84 victory.
 
Price led four Pioneers in double figures with 19 points. Sanford scored 16 points, while Willoughby recorded his fourth double-double in the last five games with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Waganfeald finished with 10 points.
 
Parker led the Purple Raiders with 26 points and 11 boards. Collen Gurley scored 18 points, while Hudson and Caleb Laurich finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Marietta returns home to host Heidelberg University on Saturday (Jan. 20). Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.