Men set three OAC and school records, but B-W leaves with win on Alumni Day

Jan. 15 2005
MARIETTA , Ohio - The men's basketball team entertained the Alumni Day crowd Saturday (Jan. 15) by setting three OAC and school records, but Baldwin-Wallace came away with the 107-96 victory.

The Pioneers (2-13, 0-8 OAC) and the Yellow Jackets (12-3, 5-3 OAC) battled back and forth throughout the first half. Marietta led by as many as seven points, 18-11, but Baldwin-Wallace turned the tables to go up 49-41 with 1:07 to go and entered the half with a 49-44 lead.

The score remained close, 57-55 in favor of B-W, over the first four minutes of the second stanza, but the Yellow Jackets went on a 34-6 run over the next 8:14 to take a 91-61 lead and complete control of the momentum. Marietta, like it has done all year, did not give up and closed the game on a 15-2 run to bring the final score to 107-96 in favor of Baldwin-Wallace.

A major factor in Marietta's ability to stay close and the battle back was the OAC and school record 21 steals it forced, as Baldwin-Wallace committed a school record 37 turnovers.

The Pioneers also attempted an OAC record 63 three-pointers. The 19 three-pointers they made also tied the conference and school record, the second time MC has done that this season.

As a team, Marietta finished 32-of-104 (30.8%) from the floor, while Baldwin-Wallace converted on 42-of-64 (65.6%) from the field. The Jackets out rebounded the Pioneers 63-42 and had 26 assists while MC had 18.

Senior Chris Fulton (West Milton/Milton Union) converted 8-of-20 from the field, including 7-of-17 from long range to lead MC with a career-high 25 points. He also had a team-high four steals.

Freshman Craig Stewart (Circleville) made 4-of-14 three-pointers to finish with 17, while freshman Seth Amburgey (Chapmanville) hit three three-pointers to add 11 points. Senior Matt Hines (Waverly/Eastern Pike) also finished in double figures with 10, while sophomore Chad Sponseller (Canton/GlenOak) had nine points and seven assists.

Baldwin-Wallace was paced by senior Thad Davis with 34 points and 15 rebounds, while his brother Tori Davis added 21 points and 12 boards. Also scoring double figures were Keith Aufmuth (12) and Brendan Schuler (11).

A special halftime ceremony this afternoon recognized the 1974-74 team. 30 years ago, this group of young men captured the OAC regular season title and finished runners-up in the NCAA Tournament, which was hosted by Marietta College. This squad is the only MC team to earn a bid to the NCAA basketball tournament in its 100 years of basketball history and the last to capture an OAC title.

The 1974-75 team finished 19-4 and was led by fourth year head coach Phil Roach, who earned OAC and Ohio Coach of the Year honors for leading MC to a 19-4 record, which was the best in the state of Ohio that year and best at MC in 20 years; the league’s regular season crown with an 11-2 record; a host birth in the first ever NCAA DIII Great Lakes Regional Tournament in which Marietta took runner-up honors and a string of 12 home court victories.

The 2005 Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday (Jan. 19) when they visit Otterbein for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Senior Chris Fulton converted 7-of-17 3-pointers to finis with a career-high 25 points against B-W

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