Written by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
What did you miss over winter break? The basketball team has been active. Last time we left the men’s basketball program they were 5-4. Now they find themselves just below .500 at 7-9. Over the holidays, the team visited the Alamo. There they participated in the Trinity Leslie Robinson Holiday Classic.
But first, the team traveled to Westerville to play the Otterbein Cardinals. The teams were tied 26-26 late in the first before the Pios went on a run to lead the first 38-31. However, the Pios came out slow in the second as it wasn’t long before the Cardinals regained the lead. Marietta ultimately lost to Otterbein 74-61.
In the Lone Star State, they first played Schreiner University whom the Pioneers came out to an early lead to as they were ahead 48-37 at the half. Unfortunately, Schreiner held the momentum in the second half and tied the game. However, for the benefit of Marietta, Jai Howard Guerra made a layup with 8 seconds left and Schreiner missed a jumper to end the game with 76-74 Pioneer victory.
The following day, Marietta found themselves facing off with the #14 ranked University of St. Thomas (TX
). St. Thomas ran away with the game in the first leading 34-20 at halftime. However, the Pioneers were able to close the gap to just four points with five minutes left in the game. Although, that’s as close as they would get as the Celts held on to win 73-65.
The Pioneers returned from Christmas break and played their first game of January at home versus Wilmington College. The Pioneers started out the new year allowing the Quakers to score ten straight points. By the end of the first half of the Pios were down 48-30. The second half saw the opposite. As they mimicked their last game. The Pios went on a run late and closed the gap to just three. With three minutes left an Elijah Harden three pointer followed by a free throw closed the gap to one. Unfortunately, the same result was held. In the last two minutes Wilmington scored six straight to end the game with a Pioneer 85-77 loss.
The Pioneers faced their second ranked opponent this season, that being their undefeated conference rival Mount Union. The #5 ranked Purple Raiders came out with an early lead. However, Marietta was able to slow them down halfway through the first. Although the damage was already done as Mount was ahead 46-33. Marietta kept up with the Raiders pace in the second, however were not able to regain their ground and lost 87-72.
Marietta’s last road game was against Heidelberg University. The Pioneers dominated the Student Princes in the first half mounting a 54-34 lead. The schools stayed steady in the second half as the Pios were able to secure their win 89-69.
Marietta returned home and dropped to 2-5 in the OAC in their first game of the spring semester. Ohio Northern steamed past the Pioneers in the second half with a consistent round of three pointers while Marietta settled for layups and jumpers. The Pios led at the half 42-38 and maintained the lead halfway through the second but ultimately came up short in a 90-82 loss.
Marietta’s next game is at home versus the Fightin Muskies on Wednesday January 21st at 7:00 p.m. They’ll also be home on Saturday January 24th at 1:00 p.m. versus Capital University.
On February 14th, the 2026 Hall of Fame Dinner & Reception will take place in the DBRC at 6:00 p.m. right after the team’s final home game of the season hosting Heidelberg. Tickets are available at 2026 Hall of Fame Dinner & Reception | Marietta College and are $50 per person.
