Tyler Kirsch was one of six Blue Streaks in double figures as JCU won its 14th consecutive game -- tying a school record
Box Score
John Carroll played a game of survival and outlasted Marietta College, producing an 85-76 victory to tie a school record with its 14th consecutive win and remain in first place in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
It was a battle of attrition at the DeCarlo Varsity Center, as there were 45 turnovers, 76 free throws, 57 personal fouls, and three foul outs.
John Carroll started out ice cold and Marietta red hot during the opening nine minutes of the contest. While the visiting Pioneers made 10 of their first 13 shots from the floor, including all four from three-point range, the Blue Streaks missed all but four of their first 16 attempts from the field. As John Carroll struggled, Marietta built a 24-14 lead.
JCU was able to chip away, however, and would eventually take its first lead of the afternoon when Maurice Haynes drained a jumper with 1:28 to play in the half for a 43-41 advantage.
After both teams split a pair of free throws, Marietta's Daun Lutes would score the final basket of the half with 38 seconds left to make the score 44-44 after 20 minutes of play.
It would be a different start to the second half for both teams, as John Carroll opened up by scoring the first 11 points. In the meantime, Marietta missed its first six shots.
The Blue Streaks would take what seemed to be a commanding 75-58 lead with just over six minutes to play when the Pioneers started to make things interesting once again. A 9-1 run run chipped into the JCU lead, lowering the margin into single digits on a Joe Puch free throw with 3:27 remaining in regulation.
Aided by a free throw parade and a three-point basket by Rydell Chrisman, Marietta trimmed the lead to 80-74 with 1:02 to play, but John Carroll made free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
John Carroll (18-4, 14-2 OAC) had six players reach double figures, led by 15 from Chris Zajac and 14 from Haynes. Tyler Kirsch added 11 points, while Rudy Kirbus, Corey Shontz and Matt Crozier each tallied ten as the Blue Streaks improved to 8-0 at home this season.
Isaiah Creasap was the high scorer for Marietta (12-11, 7-9 OAC), as he matched Zajac for game best honors with 15 points. Trevor Halter and Puch each accrued 14 points, while Chrisman scored 11. After making ten of its first 13 shots, the Pioneers were just 10-36 (.278) from the field for the rest of the contest, including 6-25 (.240) in the second half.
