Marietta OAC Tournament bound after 79-73 win over rival Muskingum
Pioneers clinch spot in year-end tournament for first time since 2003-04

Feb.11, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — A 79-73 victory over visiting rival Muskingum College helped second-year Head Coach Jon VanderWal’s Marietta College men’s basketball team lock up a berth into the 2009 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament. It will be the first time that the Pioneers (12-10, 7-8 OAC) will compete in the league tournament since it was trimmed down to eight teams in 2004-05.

Marietta freshman post Kevin Knab (Lakewood) led the way with 20 points, scoring 10 in each half. Freshman wing Joe Puch (Brunswick) added 12 points and freshman wing Trevor Halter (Malvern) contributed 10 points and three of the Pioneers’ seven blocks in the win. Marietta also received nine points and eight rebounds from freshman post Zane Carter (Wellsville), nine points and five boards from senior wing Isaiah Creasap (Wooster/Northwestern) and eight points and six rebounds from freshman post Conner Kilpatrick (Bowling Green).

Tyler Felt paced Muskingum (10-12, 7-8 OAC) with a game-high 22 points. Trevor Scott added 16 points, while Pat Byrne contributed 14 points and eight assists in the loss.

The teams traded baskets over the first six minutes of the game, and Muskingum led 14-10 with 14:07 to play in the half. A three-pointer from Puch ignited a 21-7 run over the next 5:56, allowing Marietta to build a 31-21 advantage with 8:11 left before halftime. A jumper by Knab less than three minutes later extended the lead to 13 points, 35-22. The Fighting Muskies, however, battled back with an 11-3 run to close the half down just five points, 38-33.

The Pioneers, who shot 51.8% (29-of-56) from the floor, including 38.5% (5-of-13) from beyond the arc, were able to maintain the lead throughout the entire second half but the Muskies would not go quietly. Trailing by just four points, 65-61, after a three-pointer by Scott, Muskingum began to foul with 3:55 remaining. Marietta kept its opponent in the game by connecting on just 12-of-19 from the line down the stretch. Fortunately, the Muskies, who finished the night shooting 41.9% (26-of-62) from the field and 30.4% (7-of-23) from three-point range, never got closer than four points again and the Pioneers were able to celebrate a 79-73 win in front of the home crowd.

Marietta dominated the boards, out-rebounding Muskingum 44-25, including 16-9 on the offensive end. Both teams took care of the ball; the Pioneers finished with 11 turnovers, while the Muskies had eight. Coach VanderWal’s bench out-scored Muskingum 20-9 in the victory.

Marietta is back in action on Saturday (Feb. 14) afternoon when the Pioneers battle first place John Carroll University. The Blue Streaks won the initial meeting, 71-66, at Ban Johnson Arena on Jan. 10. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.

Freshman Trevor Halter knocks down a free throw to help Marietta secure a 79-73 win over rival Muskingum.

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