Marietta MAR 14-9,8-8 OAC

John Carroll JCU 22-1,16-0 OAC

Marietta MAR

14-9,8-8 OAC

Final

Feb. 10, 2024

John Carroll JCU

22-1,16-0 OAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Marietta MAR	23	54	77
John Carroll JCU	42	40	82

Summary
Box Score

Jose Figueroa

The Blue Streaks remained composed down the stretch to hold off Marietta.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 2/10/2024 4:44:00 PM | Leah Harrigan, Senior Staff Writer

#1 Blue Streaks Outlast Marietta in Front of Packed DeCarlo Center

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS -- After securing the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Title, John Carroll Men's Basketball looked to continue the winning trend against Marietta, a quick and gritty opponent that always guarantees an aggressive game.

But, the Pioneers were left to fight against a high-powered Blue Streaks offense and defense, a core group of players that are coached to execute smothering defense and seamless transitions on offense.

The Blue Streaks fired out hot, then the Pios punched back, but John Carroll emerged with the win, an 82-77 conquest to sweep the regular-season series for the second straight time.

John Carroll kicked things off early, several Blue Streaks tallying double digit points before the final five minutes of the half. Among the crew that fired early was Luke Chicone, the dynamic point guard who grabbed a quick 12 points, but continued to work on all aspects of the court, securing seven rebounds and a handful of assists.

Chicone's work continued into the second half, leading the squad in minutes played, a testament to Chicone's athleticism and necessary presence on the court. With a combination of collaborative efforts, the Blue Streaks entered the locker room at half with a comfortable 42-23 lead.

But, in traditional OAC fashion, the Pioneers came out with an intense energy boost, especially from beyond the three-point arc. Within the first four minutes of the second half, the Pioneers hit four triples, slowly closing the point deficit and keeping the Blue Streaks on their toes.

"They came out hot in the second half, they made a lot of shots, so down the stretch, to be on the floor and be able to make some stops, it meant a lot," said Will Yontek, the junior forward who was among the core group rotating into the game when stakes were highest.

The early buckets from Jac Alexander dictated the pace of the game, forcing a few John Carroll errors that were uncharacteristic. Nonetheless, the Blue Streaks defended their home court, preventing as many opportunities as possible.

And this feat was familiar for John Carroll, the Blue Streaks and the Pioneers repeating a similar game trajectory from their first meeting this season. Back in January, John Carroll also entered the locker room at half with a 20-point lead, just to finish with a narrow 10-point victory.

So, although today's second half was too close for anyone's comfort, the Blue Streaks were in this position before, clinging to fundamentals on defense and intensity with each passing second.

"I think we've taken the mentality that the number in front our (team's) name doesn't matter, we go out there and enjoy the moment, 1-0 everyday, what's in the past is the past, what's ahead is ahead, but we just have to take care of the present," continued Yontek.

And so they did. Amongst some back and forth possessions, John Carroll was able to secure the 82-77 victory.

Particularly crucial was an alleyoop from Luke Frazier to Henry Raynor at 7:53. Equally important was an 8-0 run in a three-minute span to turn a 69-69 tie into a 77-69 lead by the 2:27 mark. Marietta did get to within one possession with a minute left, but a quick Luke Chicone layup proved to be a dagger. Frazier made some free throws down the stretch to clinch it.

A 26-point game from Chicone, closely followed by a 22-point day from Frazier, were the catalysts in today's matchup. Defensively down low, Henry Raynor, David Gentry, Luka Eller and Yontek worked to beat opponents to their spots, playing extremely physical games in the paint. Overall, several Blue Streaks contributed to the win, showcasing how special this team is.

Additionally, JCU's 22-1 mark is the best record through 23 games in program history.

"I think the energy will roll forward, we're undefeated in the league still so that's still the goal moving forward," finished Yontek.

Next, John Carroll will travel to Otterbein on Wednesday, Feb. 14, for a 7 pm tip-off against the Cardinals. This game is the penultimate of the regular season.

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