Sponseller matched a season-high with seven three-pointers for Marietta, who fell to 3-12 overall and 0-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Baldwin-Wallace improved to 13-2, 6-1 in Conference play.
The Pioneers opened the game by hitting four three-pointers to take a 14-7 lead. The Yellow Jackets fought back to take a 17-16 advantage with a lay-up by Dan Gundert with 13:17 to go in the half. Marietta went back up by six points later in the frame, but Baldwin-Wallace closed the half on a 12-3 run to take a 49-40 lead into intermission.
A Matt Rucker (Proctorville/Chesapeake) jumper in the opening minute pulled Marietta within seven, 49-42. Baldwin-Wallace, however, followed with a 17-4 run over the next five minutes to take a 20-point lead, 66-46 with 14:14 to play in the game.
Sponseller nailed a three-pointer with 3:01 remaining to bring Marietta within 12, 98-86, but it could not get any closer. Baldwin-Wallace ended the game on a 7-0 run to remain atop the OAC standings.
As a team, the Pioneers finished 32-of-68 (.471) from the field, including 15-of-34 (.441) from long range. MC went 8-of-12 (.667) from the foul line. The Yellow Jackets hit 38-of-60 (.633) from the floor, made 11-of-18 (.611) from beyond the arc and connected on 18-of-22 (.818) from the charity stripe. Baldwin-Wallace dominated the boards, 40-20, in the win.
Besides Sponseller, individual leaders for Marietta included freshman Steve Luckhardt (Shadyside), who finished with 14 points and six assists and freshman Isaiah Creasap (Wooster/Northwestern) and Rucker, who each finished with 12. All of Creasap's points game by way of the three-pointer.
All five of Baldwin-Wallace's starters finished in double figures. Keith Aufmuth led the way with 26 points, while Tori Davis added 22, Brendan Schuler had 19, Tyler Sekerak finished with 14 and Gundert collected 12 to go along with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Marietta will return to action Wednesday (Jan. 18), when it plays host to Otterbein at 7:30 p.m. on Fenton Court.