MARIETTA, Ohio - Nationally-ranked Marietta College turned in a two-possession game with a 17-2 run over an eight-minute span in the first half to pull away from the Wilmington College men's basketball team and earn a 78-61 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory at Ban Johnson Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers, ranked No. 8 in the most recent D3Hoops.com Top 25 Poll, looked blow open the game early as a basket seven minutes in made the score 17-8. The Fightin' Quakers responded with an 8-2 run capped by an old-fashioned, three-point play from Bryce Bird to get within four (19-15) at the 10:42 mark. Then came the aforementioned run that all but sealed the game. Marietta, which led 42-22 at halftime, held at least a 15-point lead the rest of the way. 

Both teams shot approximately 43 percent from the field and 26 percent from distance, but Marietta made nine more field goals, two more triples and won the rebounding battle 40-36. 

Individually, a trio of Pioneers - Addy Black, Lukas Isaly and Brennen Crawford - scored in double figures while Mason Lydic added a team-best eight rebounds. Collmann Aaron was the lone Quaker to score in double figures with 10 points while Jeffery Mansfield, Todd Larkin and Bird added nine points each. Noah Dado finished the contest with eight points and nine rebounds. 

Wilmington returns to Fred Raizk Arena to host Muskingum University on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.