Schnelle's 18 points leads Men's Basketball in 70-63 victory over Marietta

ADA — Four players scored in double-figures as the Ohio Northern men's basketball team picked up a 70-63 win over Marietta Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 10-11 overall and 6-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while the Pioneers fall to 14-7, 9-5.

Senior Scott Schnelle led Northern with 18 points going 6-of-9 from the field.

Sophomore Branden Rushton had 15 points, sophomore Jared Horstman scored 11 and sophomore Dominque Royal finished with 10.

Schnelle now has scored 989 points in 99 career games and needs just 11 more to become the 36th member of ONU's 1,000-Point Club.

Northern started quickly, using a 6-0 run to open up a 19-13 lead with 10:22 gone in the game.

The Polar Bears would extend the lead to 30-21; their largest of the game, with 1:59 left in the first half on a jumper by Rushton.

ONU would hold a 34-27 advantage at halftime.

Marietta would battle back and tied the game at 40-40 with 13:24 left.

The Polar Bears would respond with a 9-2 run to open up a 49-42 lead with 10:25 left. Rushton scored five points while Schnelle and Royal each added a basket to give ONU the lead back.

The Pioneers would then go on a 14-6 run to take a 56-55 lead with 3:22 remaining in the game.

Senior Logan Conley would respond with a jumper to put Northern back in front by a 57-56 score with just over three minutes to play.

Marietta would answer right back and take a 58-57 lead on a jumper by Trevor Halter.

Senior Logan Conley would then knock down a jumper to put Northern back in front by a 57-56 score with just over three minutes to play.

Marietta would answer right back and take a 58-57 lead on a jumper by Trevor Halter.

After two Schnelle free throws and a defensive stop, sophomore Jared Horstman knocked down a 3-pointer to give ONU the 62-58 advantage with 1:44 left.

Marietta responded with a jumper by Kevin Knab to make the score 62-60 with 1:23 left.

Northern would then sink four consecutive free throws to open up a 66-60 lead with 42 seconds left.

The Pioneers would get no closer as the Polar Bears walked away with the 70-63 win.

The Polar Bears would then close the game on a 12-5 run to walk away with the 70-63 win.

"I am very proud of our guys today," said head coach John Rhodes. "It has been a tough few weeks but our guys persevered and played off of each other today. We had a complete performance on both ends of the floor."

Northern was 23-of-52 from the field (44.2%) but struggled shooting the 3-ball going 4-of-19 (21.1%).

The Pioneers shot 27-of-58 (46.6%) from the field and shot just 1-of-16 (6.3%) from behind the arc.

ONU was 20-of-26 (76.9%) from the charity stripe, including 10-of-14 in the final three minutes.

Marietta was led by Knab, who posted a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The Polar Bears will be in action again on Wednesday when they host Heidelberg at 7:30 at the ONU Sports Center.