MARIETTA, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball team was back in action on Wednesday night as the Comets traveled to take on the Pioneers of Marietta College. There, the Comets outlasted the Pioneers by a final score of 86-83 for their second straight win. 

The result moves both teams to 9-7 overall on the season, while Capital moves to 5-4 in the OAC and Marietta drops to 4-5 in the conference. 

The Capital win was the first for the Comets in Marietta since they won 82-78 on January 9, 2019. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first half, both teams came out looking to gain a foothold in the game. Quickly, a 3-pointer from Carter Combs just over a minute in, gave Capital a lead that they would extend out to as many as 12 points in the first stanza at 20-8. 

The advantage wouldn't last for long as Marietta clawed their way back into the game and eventually took a lead at 38-37 with just over four minutes left before the break. 

A four-point swing in the final minute of the half gave the Pioneers a 46-45 lead into the locker room as Frank Waganfeald and Ethan Andersen both netted buckets before the horn. 

Out of the intermission, Marietta held serve with the first few points of the stanza, but a dunk from Dom Moegerle sparked a bit of life into the Comets and ignited a tight back-and-forth battle for the next several minutes of action. 

That teeter-totter scoreline would eventually swing Cap's way as Tre Hammond nailed a 3-pointer with 9:23 left in the game and set CU off on a 9-0 run. Another three from Hammond and a triple from McKane Finkenbine gave the Comets the much needed separation. 

That advantage eventually expanded to as many as 14 points and the Pioneers entered desperation mode. That frantic push to pull off the comeback only brought the hosts to as little as two points, but Capital did just enough to hang on for the 86-83 win. 

THE NUMBERS
Six Comets scored in double digits for Capital in the form of Carter Combs (15), Kaleb Crawford (14), Joe Thompson (13), Justin Nixon (11), Tre Hammond (11) and Dom Moegerle (10). 
Nine of the 10 players to hit the floor scored at least one point. 

Justin Nixon recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and a new career-high 13 rebounds. He added two assists and a block to his efforts. 

Capital dished out 16 assists, four from both Griffin Doseck and McKane Finkenbine, two from Combs, Crawford, and Nixon, and one from Ryan Suever and Joe Thompson.

Ryan Suever matched his career-high with a game-high three blocks.  

THE OPPONENT
Points - David   Sanford (24)
Assists - Frank Waganfeald (4)
Rebounds - Ethan Andersen (7)
Blocks - Lovenson Xavier/Andersen (1)
Steals - Sahmi Wiloughby (2)

UP NEXT
There's an oar up for grabs in the Comets' next contest as they will host the rival Otterbein Cardinals on Saturday, January 21 in the Battle for the Oar presented by Byers Airport Subaru. That game will be the second leg of a women's-men's doubleheader at the Capital Center with the women's teams facing off at 5:00 p.m. followed by the men at 7:00 p.m.