Zachary Worstell
zdw001@marietta.edu
The Marietta College men’s basketball team continued to have Otterbein’s number beating them by 20 points on Wednesday night. This convincing win for the Pioneers was the 19th in a row win against the Cardinals. The win helped the Pioneers improve to 11-7, looking to get back on a winning streak after their four-game losing streak. Marietta Head Coach Jon VanderWal would comment, “We didn’t shoot it great tonight, but we got so many second chances. We pride ourselves on rebounding and they couldn’t keep us off the glass.” Sophomore, Frank Waganfeald , would lead the Pioneers with ten of their fifty-one rebounds. As for the Pioneers offense, Lovenson Xavier would lead the team with 23 points, shooting 9 of 13.
Otterbein would start with a 4-3 lead, although would let Marietta score 13 unanswered points. That early run would cost them as they never quite were able to catch back up. However, Otterbein would put up a fight, as they closed a 34-18 gap to a 36-29 right before the half. The Cardinals drive would primarily come from Cam Evans, who led their team with 16 points.
Otterbein continued to trim the point margin in the second half getting as close as four points, 43-39, in the early stages. Although, Otterbein’s comeback would be shortly lived as Marietta would go on a 11-1 point run highlighted by Cooper Parrott’s three pointer.
Otterbein would not get much closer after that run, as two free throws from Xavier with 1:57 left on the clock would seal the game at 74-54. VanderWal would praise the team’s defense stating, “We defended with real intensity and when you hold someone to 54 points you’re probably going to win.”
The next challenge for the Pioneers is against Baldwin Wallace, whom they beat 78-73 earlier this season. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 28th.
