MARIETTA, OHIO – Baldwin Wallace men's basketball team was defeated by Ohio Athletic Conference rival Marietta College, 72-70, today (Saturday, February 9, 2013) on Fenton Court in the Ban Johnson Arena.

 

With its loss, BW dropped to 17-6 overall and 12-4 in the OAC and ended a four-game winning streak. With its victory, Marietta improved to 17-6 overall and 13-3 in the OAC and earned a split of the season series and moved into sole possession of second place in the league. 

 

Marietta College senior guard Jacob Owens canned a three-pointer with 3.4 seconds left to give the Pioneers the win. In addition to Owens for Marietta, senior forward J.J. Martin and sophomore backup center Garrett Stephenson led the way with 12 points each, senior guard Tyler Hammond had 11 and Owens scored 10. BW was led by junior All-OAC guard Kevin Krakowiak (Valley City/ Holy Name) with a game-high 17 points, senior 2-time Academic All-OAC forward Chris Ameen (Broadview Heights/ Walsh Jesuit) came off the bench to score 12 points, All-OAC forwardKyle Payne (Brunswick) had 11 and senior Academic All-OAC guard Ben Umbel (Poland/ Seminary) had 10 points, a game-high nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.

 

With his 11 points today, Payne now has 1,125 career points and moved into 22nd place on the all-time scoring list. Tonight, he surpassed No.22 Dick Scott (1964-68), who had 1,116 points. Next up is No.21 Keith Aufmuth (2002-06), who had 1,135 points.

 

The Pioneers jumped out to an early, 5-0 lead at the 19:08 mark when senior guard Scott Kimmey made a three-pointer. It was the first of four 5-point leads with the last at 11-6 at 16:58 when senior guard Tyler Worstell made a layup.

 

After BW cut the lead to 11-10 at 14:10 on a Payne jump shot, Marietta scored four straight to lead 15-10 at 12:21.  BW then went on a 8-2 run to take its first lead at 8:55 when Umbel grabbed an offensive rebound, scored, was fouled and made his foul shot.

 

After there were two lead changes, BW scored seven straight points to take a 26-20 lead with 6:11 left in the first stanza when Krakowiak made a three-pointer. Marietta came right back with seven consecutive points to take 27-26 lead at 2:42 when Hammond made a jumper. It was the first of four straight lead changes with the last a 31-30 Yellow Jacket advantage with 1:46 left when Krakowiak canned his second trey of the period.

 

BW's lead grew to 35-30 with 51 seconds left when junior forward Skyler Simpson (Centerburg) made two foul shots. An offensive rebound and basket by Marietta's senior forward Jason Humphrey with 39 seconds left closed out the scoring and BW led, 35-32, at the intermission.

 

BW gained a 37-32 lead at 19:06 when Krakowiak opened the half with a layup. Twice Marietta cut the lead to one with the last at 39-38 with 17:24 when Martin made two foul shots.

 

BW came back with a 7-2 run to rebuild its lead at 46-40 with 15:11 left when Payne drove the lane and made a layup. The Pioneers came back with a 7-0 run to take a 47-46 lead with 12:38 left when Hammond drove the lane, scored, was fouled and made the free throw.

 

After BW regained a 49-47 lead at 11:56 on a trey by junior guard Grant Fairhurst (Ashland), the Pioneers tied the game at 49-49 and then took a pair of 4-point leads with the last at 55-51 with 9:50 left when McKean made a short jumper.

 

BW scored five straight to retake the lead at 56-55 with 8:29 left when Fairhurst canned his second triple of the stanza.  After three lead changes and a tie, the Pioneers scored six straight points for a 65-59 lead with 3:56 left when Kimmey drove the lane and scored.

 

A triple by Umbel, a basket by Payne and an offensive rebound and putback by Ameen at 1:20 gave the lead back to the Yellow Jackets at 66-65.  Following a Pioneer miss, BW's lead moved to 68-65 with 46.8 seconds left when Ameen grabbed another offensive rebound and scored.

 

Marietta closed to 68-67 when Hammond drove the lane and dished to Stephenson, who scored with 38.7 seconds left. BW came right back with Umbel scoring at 36.9 for a 70-67 lead. He also was fouled, but missed the free throw and an opportunity for a two-possession lead.

 

Stephenson got Marietta within one at 70-69 with two foul shots with 25.4 left. The Pioneers then fouled Umbel with 16.3 seconds left, but he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 that set the stage for Owens' game-winning three-pointer with 3.4 seconds left.

 

BW had one last chance to tie or win, but the ball was fumbled near midcourt and the Yellow Jackets couldn't get the shot off. The loss was just BW's second in its last 16 contests.

 

The Yellow Jacket men are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 13 when they host OAC-rival Heidelberg University in the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea at 7:30 p.m.  Fans can listen to that game LIVE on campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, and via the Internet at www.wbwc.com.

 

On Saturday, February 16, the BW women and men host OAC-rival Muskingum University in a doubleheader in Berea. The twinbill will be taped by S&S Video Productions and televised by regional cable TV network SportsTime Ohio.  The women's game will air on Saturday night at 11:00 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17 at 4:00 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 18 at 5:00 a.m. The men's game will air on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and Monday at 7:00 a.m. BW has televised more of its athletics events on regional cable television than any other small college in the country.

 

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.