Box Score

MARIETTA, OHIO – The Otterbein University men’s basketball team (2-5, 0-3 OAC) fell to league-leader Marietta College (7-0, 3-0 OAC) by a score of 72-54 Saturday at the Ban Johnson Arena. 

The Cards took an 11-10 lead at the 16:10 mark after a bucket from sophomore Zach Bakenhaster, but the host Pioneers rallied back to take an 18-11 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the opening half. 

Marietta kept its foot on the pedal to extend the lead to 27-13 with 7:26 showing on the game clock, and eventually took a 35-23 lead into halftime. 

Otterbein sank the first basket of the second half, but the Pioneers pushed their margin to 42-28 minutes later after Tyler Hammond came up with a steal and slashed to the hoop for a score. 

The Cards stayed within striking distance and closed to within four, at 47-73, when freshman Max Van Meter made a layup with just under 11 minutes to go. 

However, Marietta answered by forcing Otterbein into a turnover on its next offensive possession, and went on a quick 11-2 run over the next three minutes to take a 58-45 lead.
 
Otterbein’s C.J. Julian made a free-throw on the next possession, but the Pioneers embarked on a 12-2 run to take a comfortable 70-48 advantage with four minutes to go, and eventually earn a 72-54 victory. 

Junior Brice Rausch paced Otterbein with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Chris Davis and Bakenhaster added 11 and ten, respectively. Davis also hauled in 11 boards for a double-double. 

The Cardinals shot .380 from the field compared to .450 for Marietta. The Pioneers helped their offensive attack with a 10-of-22 effort from beyond the arc. 

Otterbein committed twice as many turnovers at 22-11, but did hold a 43-34 rebounding edge. 

Otterbein has the middle of the week off before hosting conference preseason favorite John Carroll Saturday evening at 7 p.m.