Bison defeated by No. 13 Marietta, 83-70

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

• Box Score

BETHANY, W.Va. (Nov. 26) - The Bison were knocked off by No. 13 Marietta 83-70 in a non-conference game at the Hummel Field House Sunday afternoon.

The Bethany College men's basketball team falls to 0-5 overall with the loss. Marietta, ranked No. 13 in the latest D3Hoops.com Top-25 poll, improves to 4-0 this season.

Bethany center Liam Davis (Orlando, Fla./Orlando Christian) dropped a career-high 20 points and had a team-high six rebounds in the game. Senior guard Calique Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) added 15 points, four rebounds and three steals, while sophomore Chaice Truex (Wheeling, W.Va./St. John Central (Ohio)) added 14 and a team-best five assists.

Marietta opened the game on a tear, converting each of their first six attempts from the field to open up a 15-6 lead in the first three minutes. Bethany held the Pioneers to only two points over the next four minutes of the game, but still trailled 17-10 at the 13-minute mark of the first half.

Marietta built its lead to 14, 31-17, with 7:32 remaining in the first half, but a 12-4 run by the Bison over the next six minutes allowed Bethany to close the gap at 35-29 with just over a minute left until halftime. The Pioneers knocked down a pair of baskets in the final minute to cap off the first half with a 40-29 lead.

Bethany kept the game within reach in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Back-to-back three pointers by senior Christian Harris (Cleveland, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and freshman Trey Shifflett (York, Pa./William Penn) brought Bethany to within six points at 59-53 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, but Marietta did not allow the Bison to get any closer. The Pioneers controlled the tempo of the final 10 minutes of the game and out-scored Bethany 24-to-17 to claim the victory.

Marietta finished the game 32-of-66 (49 percent) from the field, including 14-of-33 (42 percent) from beyond-the-arc. Bethany finished 27-of-57 (47 percent) in the game and was 8-of-20 (40 percent) from long range.

Bethany held a 12-to-11 edge in turnovers, but the Pioneers finished with a 19-to-9 advantage in points off of turnovers for the game.

Marietta's Kyle Dixon scored 22 points, including 5-of-7 from long range, to lead the Pioneers.

Bethany will open Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Wednesday, November 29 when they host Geneva for a game at 7:30 p.m.