CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN --Ahmoni Jones scored a career-high 33 points, and Vinny Buccilla added a career-best 20 points, but the Wabash men's basketball team fell to the Marietta Pioneers 89-81 in overtime at home Friday in the opening day finale of the 2022 Great Lakes Invitational.

Wabash (3-1) held a 34-27 halftime lead thanks, in part, to a late 5-0 run culminating in a bucket from Champ McCorkle, to increase its lead to the largest of the game at 34-24 with 1:09 remaining in the opening period. The Little Giants held a six-point lead at 41-35 on a jumper from Jones with 16:52 remaining in the second period before icing up from the field. Wabash went scoreless from the field for the next nine minutes. Marietta (2-1) took advantage of the scoring drought and took a 55-lead with 8:21 left on the second-period clock before Avery Beaver connected on a three-pointer to cut the lead to three points. Jones added another long-range shot with 6:51 left in regulation to draw Wabash to tie the game at 55-55.

Beaver answered a bucket by the Pioneers with another three-pointer to remain even at 58-58. The teams traded baskets over the next six minutes before Marietta took a two-point lead with 31 seconds left in regulation on a putback basket by Sahmi Willoughby. The Little Giants responded with Sam Comer scoring the game-tying hoop on a driving layup from the right side to tie the game at 75-75 and force an overtime period.
 
Wabash took a two-point lead in the extra session on a pair of free throws by Buccilla. Marietta came back with eight straight points to jump in front 83-77. Comer ended the scoring run with a basket with 2:04 left in overtime. Another 6-0 run in the closing minutes of OT gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the game at 10 points before a final basket by Comer provided the eight-point difference.
 
Game Notes
» Wabash found success from three-point land, knocking down 12 treys in the game.

» Jones, Buccilla, and Beaver combined to account for 77 percent of the Little Giants points.

» Wabash got a team-high eight rebounds from Vinny Buccilla. Jones tacked on seven rebounds. Comer also helped out with six points and five assists.
 
»The Wabash offense was strong from downtown, pouring in 12 threes on 31 attempts. Jones hit five triples for the Little Giants in the contest.
 
» Wabash finished the game shooting 25-of-59 from the field for 42.4 percent. Marietta shot 33-of-71 for 46.5 percent. The Little Giants shot 19-of-24 from the free throw line, while Marietta went 18-of-27. The  Pioneers held the rebounding edge 42-35.
 
» Five Marietta players scored in double figures, led by 18 points from David Sanford.
 
»Wabash plays Maryville in the last game of the 2022 Great Lakes Invitational Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. Maryville lost to Keene State 78-69 Friday evening.
 
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.