Men's Basketball tops Penn State-DuBois 111-97

On Sunday, November 25th the Marietta College Men's Basketball team picked up their first win of the 2007-2008 season, topping Penn State-DuBois Lions 111-97. The victory is the first in for first year Head Coach Jon VanderWal, at Marietta College. With the win the Pioneers improve their record to 1-3 for the season.The Pioneers were the first team to score and began to build their lead over the Lions. The Pioneers lead 59-37 at halftime. The Pioneers reached the 100-point mark with 3:34 left in the second half, when Daun Lutes laid the ball in for two points.

Senior Adam Rockhold led the Pioneers' offensive attack. Rockhold grabbed a career high 11 rebounds, and a game high and career high 25 points, collecting his third straight double double. Rockhold was named to the All Tournament Team for his efforts.

Junior forward Daun Lutes collected eight rebounds and scored 20 points in the contest. Freshman guard Jordan Cox, sophomore Jordan Johnson, and freshman Nathan Edick each contributed 15 points in the win. Johnson led the team with six assists.

As a team the Pioneers finished 42-68 (.618) from the field, 7-14 (.500) from the three-point line and 20-25 (.800) from the line.

Earlier in the tournament the Pioneer men fell 94-83 to the Medaille College Mavericks in the Allegheny Tournament.

The Pioneers were playing without their leading scorer junior Isaiah Creasap due to an ankle sprain. At halftime the Pioneers trailed 41-31 to the Mavericks. Marietta surged earlier in the second half to take the lead 55-49. However, the Pioneers surge would be slowed and Medaille steadily built back their lead, as high as 14 points, to secure the victory.

Senior center Adam Rockhold led all scorers with 20 points and 12 boards. Stepping in with the absence of Creasap, freshman Jordan Cox and Nathan Edick, with 18 and 15 points respectively.

As a team, the Pioneers were 30-65 (.462) from the field, including 12-27 (.444) from behind the arc. The Pioneers were 11-20 (.550) from the line and had 22 turnovers in the loss.

The Pioneers are back in action Saturday, December 1st, when they travel to Ada, Ohio to take on the Ohio Northern Polar Bears. The Pioneers will next play at home Wed, Dec. 5th, when they host the Otterbein Cardinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers will close out 2007 with home contests against Wilmington on December 8th and Heidelberg on December 15th.