Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio – The Cardinal men's basketball squad was the latest to fall to No. 15-ranked Marietta as it dropped a 94-75 contest Wednesday night inside Ban Johnson Arena.

Otterbein (7-11 overall) drops to 3-8 in conference play and embarks on its final two games of a three-game road trip beginning Saturday at Heidelberg. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Tiffin, Ohio.

Marietta came into the game riding a four-game winning streak, including victories over two of the top-four teams in the league over its last four games. Otterbein was in turn looking to snap its four-game losing streak after beginning the New Year with two-straight wins over OAC foes.

The Cardinals opened the game on the wrong side of a 21-3 scoring run, as the Pioneers connected on eight of their first 12 shot attempts.

Marietta quickly lifted its lead to 24 points over the next nine minutes of action before Otterbein capped off the initial frame on a 22-12 scoring to trim the Pioneers' largest-lead in half.

Otterbein's run was spirited by eight points apiece off the bench from forwards Grant Fenner and Michael Howard, while guard Austin Springer paced the team with nine points.

The Cardinals opened the second half by cutting their deficit to 50-40 following a made layup by forward Bryan Mackenzie, the first basket of the frame.

Marietta upped its lead to 13 points less than a minute later before Mackenzie converted two-straight free throws at the 16:51 mark to put the Cards within 11 points.

Otterbein would come no closer than 12 points over the remainder of the period as the Pioneers reached their largest lead of the night at 81-53 with 9:05 remaining.

Springer finished with a career-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, dishing out two assists to go with three steals. Fenner followed with a season-high 15 points after logging a season-best 17 minutes off the bench.

Fellow forward Bryan Mackenzie checked in with nine points, while Howard totaled eight points and four rebounds. The Cards ended the game shooting 39.7 percent, but did connect on 11 three-pointers.

Pioneer forward A.J. Edwards, the reigning OAC Player of the Week, totaled a game-high 23 points as his team shot 48.6 percent from the floor.