Box Score

It was a tale of two halves.

Marietta was better in the first, especially towards the end. John Carroll owned the second, however, and though JCU trailed by as many as 13, the Blue and Gold played phenomenally in the second half to capture a 74-68 upset victory over Marietta on Senior Day.

Regan Sweeney hit a clutch 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining to give the Blue Streaks a four point lead that would be too much for Marietta to overcome.

Four JCU starters posting double digit point totals, combined with the team's perfect day from the free throw line (shooting 15 of 15), helped the Blue Streaks claim a victory that gives them momentum heading into the team's first round Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament match-up on Monday at home against the Otterbein.

Marietta owned the lead and the momentum to begin the second half. The visiting Pioneers upped the lead to 13 early on in the period, as Marietta found room in the post area and from behind the arc. But the Blue Streaks began to chip away at the lead. Thanks to a trio of three's from Danny Wallack, the Blue and Gold narrowed the deficit to six halfway through the half.

Three minutes later, JCU had brought the score to 64-61. Finally, with 4:30 remaining in the regular season, the Blue Streaks recaptured the lead. For the first time since the four minute mark of the first half, the Blue and Gold had control of the lead.

JCU sophomore guard David Hendrickson made the score 69-64 with a clutch three from the top of the key to give the home team momentum with just under two minutes to play. Marietta was not done, however, as Pioneers nailed a key trey to bring the score to 69-68.

But destiny was on JCU's side. Marietta left forward Regan Sweeney open on the right wing, and the sophomore made the Pioneers pay. His shot was right on the mark, giving JCU a four point lead with 24 seconds left on the clock. Marietta could not overcome the late deficit, as the Blue and Gold concluded the regular season and Senior Day with a thrilling 74-68 triumph.

Sweeney described the plan on the key play of the game that ended in his game-sealing three.

“The game plan from [JCU head] coach Moran was to take the ball out, give it to Kyle Hubbard, who came running low on a ball screen across the base line, pass it to him on a bounce pass, they doubled down instantly and he kicked it out and I shot it and knew it was in,” he said.

Moran further evaluated his strategy: “He [Sweeney] wasn't the first choice, he just shot it. The law of percentages was on his side because he already bricked a couple threes earlier in the game.”

Marietta cruised to a 17-4 run to end the first period, securing a 44-33 Pioneer lead at intermission, before the game gave way to a wild second half.

Hubbard, who led JCU with 21 points on the day, was happy with where the team is at following the win. “It feels good to get a win, especially for all the freshmen too,” he said after his Senior Day. “This is a lot of momentum going into the OAC Tournament, and we needed this today.”

The Blue Streaks will host the Otterbein Cardinals in the first round of the OAC Tournament on Monday.