Trailing by just one point with 5:18 to play, sixth-ranked Marietta would get four points from Kevin Knab and a key 3-pointer from Joe Puch with just 51 seconds remaining to lead the Pioneers past Denison, 64-58 on Tuesday night in Granville.

Both teams were showing a little rust on offense but the Big Red's defense was in midseason form.  The Pioneers returned every letter winner from last year's NCAA Sweet 16 squad, but DU would hold them to 34 percent shooting on the night.

Denison trailed by as many as 13 points early in the second half but they kept their foot on the gas and the game within striking distance.  With 7:08 to play and down eight points, a Larry Farmer layup off a nice interior pass by Dimonde Hale trimmed the lead to six.  Marietta's J.J. Martin would miss on a 3-point attempt at the other end.  Sophomore Alex Longi would respond with a hoop and a foul and after the made free throw, DU trailed by just three points with 5:34 to play.

After another Marietta miss, Jim Leffew got the Big Red out in transition where he found a streaking Longi for the bucket.  Clinging to a one point lead, Marietta came out of its time out and attempted a 3-pointer that was off the mark and pulled in by Hale.  A patient Big Red squad, looking to take its first lead since early in the first half, eventually got the shot the wanted when 3-point specialist Brett Tiberi let one fly from the left elbow.  The shot looked on the mark but popped out of the cylinder at the last moment. Marietta's Jason Humphrey snared the rebound and Tyler Hammond would make it a 3-point game with a layup at the 4:08 mark.

With 3:19 and Denison's shot clock ticking away, Longi tried to take a shot before the horn but was whistled for a violation, giving the ball back to Marietta.  Knab would convert a pair of free throws to go up five but DU wouldn't die as Marr Mansfield knocked down a 3-point play in the paint to cut the lead back to two with just under three minutes left.

After misses by both teams, Knab would convert in the paint with 1:53 left and Denison would miss two straight free throws, giving the ball back to Marietta with 1:21 on the clock.  That's when Puch hit the shot of the game, a 3-pointer off a pass from Hammond, putting the visitors up seven with under a minute to play.

Normally a strong 3-point shooting squad, the Big Red had their difficulties from beyond the arc, going just 1-for-13 on the night.  Marietta also struggled from deep, shooting just 25 percent (6-for-24).  Hale paced DU with 15 points and seven rebounds while Farmer posted 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.  Also providing some spark was Mansfield who ended with 11 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes.

Marietta got 15 points from Knab and 12 points from Jacob Owen.  The Pioneers held a 43-41 advantage on the boards but Denison outscored Marietta 34-18 in the paint.

Denison (0-1) will return to action with a pair of home games this weekend.  On Saturday DU will host Hanover at 3 p.m. and on Sunday Earlham will come to Livingston Gymnasium for a 3 p.m. tip-off.  The Denison Sports Network will provide a live video broadcast of both contests.