COLUMBUS – The Capital University men's basketball team put together a complete effort on both the offensive and defensive ends Wednesday, knocking off Marietta 75-55 in an Ohio Athletic Conference affair at the Capital Center.

The Crusaders (10-12 overall, 7-8 OAC), who have now knocked off each of the league's top two teams at home, shot 50 percent from the floor for the contest, extending their lead in the second half after leading by 13 at halftime.

Capital held Marietta (17-5, 12-3), the conference's No. 3 scoring offense entering play, to 33.9 percent shooting, including a 28.1 percent clip in the opening period.

Sophomore guard AJ Dixon (Hilliard, Ohio) led a balanced Crusader offense with 15 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Freshman guard Curt Geise (Delphos, Ohio), the nation's No. 1 free throw shooter percentage-wise entering the week, finished 6-of-7 at the line on his way to 14 points and four assists. Senior forward Ben Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) added six points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Crusaders took a 10-6 lead through the first five minutes of the game, as Bolka and Dixon combined for all of the team's scoring to that point.

After Marietta tied the contest at 12-12, Capital embarked on a 10-0 run, including a 3-point play and a jumper by junior forward Ben Danhoff (Clyde, Ohio) and a 3-pointer by junior wing Michael Green (Dublin, Ohio), to take a 22-12 advantage with 11:11 on the clock.

The Pioneers narrowed their deficit to four by the 8:43 mark, but the Crusaders pushed their lead back to double digits with a 9-0 and led 32-19 5:30 to play in the period.

Dixon knocked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just beyond half court to give Capital a 39-26 advantage heading into the locker room.

The Crusaders increased their lead to 45-28 just over a minute and a half into the second half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Dixon and freshman guard Tyrel Jackson (Dublin, Ohio). Marietta stormed back with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit to 45-36 by the 16:46 mark.

Capital pushed its advantage back up, eventually leading by 20 with 5:10 to play after an 14-2 run, including a 3-point play and a lay-up by Geise and four points by Bolka. The Crusaders held the Pioneers scoreless for almost five minutes during that span.

Capital outrebounded Marietta 44-28 and held a 12-4 edge in second-chance points.

The Crusaders wrap up the home portion of their regular season schedule this Saturday at 2 p.m. against cross-town rival Otterbein in the first half of a men's-women's doubleheader. Senior forwards Jared Cashen (Norwalk, Ohio) and Ben Jackson (Columbus, Ohio) will be recognized prior to playing their final regular season contest at the Capital Center.

Capital's 2014 Athletics Awards honorees, including Hall of Fame inductees, will be introduced at halftime of the men's game.