The Pioneers (3-11, 0-7 OAC) were unable to capitalize due to a poor performance from the charity stripe and their struggles on the boards. Marietta hit just 5-of-16 (.313) from the line in the loss. Mount Union (4-10, 3-4 OAC) shot 33-of-65 (.508) from the field and connected on 9-of-14 (.643) from the line. The Purple Raiders also out rebounded the Pioneers 38-23 overall and 18-5 on the offensive end.
The loss overshadowed an outstanding shooting performance from Marietta sophomore Craig Stewart (Circleville). Stewart hit 10-of-17 from the field, including 9-of-16 from long range, to finish with a career-high 31 points.
Sophomore Matt Phillips (Williamson, W. Va./Tug Valley) added 11 points and eight rebounds, while junior Matt Rucker (Proctorville/Chesapeake) finished with 11 points in the loss. As a team, Marietta connected on 14-of-30 (.467) from beyond the arc.
Mount Union hit 8-of-22 (.364) from long range in the win. Individually, five players finished in double digits for the Purple Raiders. Kyle Karpinski and Chris Switzer each finished with 16 points, while Eric Fender, Josh Long and Kyle Miller all added 10 points.
Marietta will hit to the road for its next competition, a 3 p.m. match-up with 12th-ranke Baldwin-Wallace in Berea on Saturday (Jan. 14).