Pioneers Top Calumet In Season Opener

The Malone University men’s basketball team, under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Walker, picked up an 85-76 victory on the road Saturday afternoon in its season opener at Calumet (IN) College of St. Joseph.  The Pioneers shot over 50.0% from beyond the three-point arc (7 of 13 attempts) and featured a balanced scoring attack as five different Malone players reached double figures.  The Pioneers moved to 1-0 on the year with the nine-point triumph while the Crimson dropped to 1-2.

Calumet trailed 48-38 at halftime but then outscored Malone 15-4 over the first five minutes of the second half to grab a 53-52 advantage.   The Pioneers quickly answered back, though, as the visitors took the lead for good with an 8-2 run of their own over the next three minutes.   

On the afternoon, Malone connected on 24 of 64 shots from the field (37.5%) and 30 of 43 attempts from the foul line (69.8%).  The Crimson, meanwhile, hit 28 of 76 field-goal tries (36.8%), three of 12 three-pointers (25.0%) and 17 of 33 free throws (51.5%).  The Pioneers held a slim 39-38 advantage in total rebounds and committed just eight turnovers compared to 12 for Calumet.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) tossed in a team-high 16 points in his Malone debut.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) followed with 15 points with junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) contributing 14.  Junior forward Vaso Aleksic (Bar, Montenegro) registered 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds while senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) totaled 10 points.

The Pioneers will now be idle until Saturday when they host their home opener against Goshen (IN) College at 2:00 p.m.

Goshen Rallies In Second Half To Edge Malone, 72-70

The Malone University men’s basketball team endured a narrow 72-70 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Hall in its home opener against Goshen (IN) College as the Maple Leafs fought back from a 17-point second-half deficit to record the two-point victory.  After falling behind 48-31 five and a half minutes into the final frame, the Maple Leafs used a 22-5 scoring run midway through the second half to grab a 60-56 advantage.  Goshen took it largest lead of the afternoon at 71-66 with a little over a minute remaining and then held on for the two-point triumph.  The Maple Leafs improved to 3-2 on the season with the come-from-behind victory while Malone fell to 1-1.

The Pioneers led Saturday’s contest 36-27 at halftime after limiting Goshen to just 29.0% (nine of 31) shooting over the first 20 minutes of play.  Malone then outscored the Maple Leafs 12-4 over the first five and a half minutes of the second half before Goshen battled back to take the lead.  The Pioneers shot exactly 50% in both halves, making 25 of their 50 shots from the field on the afternoon, including six of 16 (37.5%) three-pointers.  After struggling to get their offense on track in the first half, the Maple Leafs knocked down 13 of 28 (46.4%) second-half field-goal attempts to end the day with a 37.3 shooting percentage (22 of 59).  22 of Goshen’s points in the contest came at the charity stripe as the visitors made 22 of 33 (66.7%) free throws on the afternoon.  The Maple Leafs also held a 39-34 advantage in total rebounds and forced 20 Malone turnovers.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 14 points.  Junior forward Vaso Aleksic (Bar, Montenegro) came off the bench to record his second consecutive double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) added 10 points while junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) and junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) each tossed in eight.

Canton native and GlenOak High School graduate Errick McCollum led the way for Goshen with 21 points.

The Pioneers will return to action on Thursday evening when they travel to the University of Findlay (0-0 overall) for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the NCAA Division II Oilers.

Findlay Pulls Away From Pioneers In Second Half

The Malone University men’s basketball team fell on the road to the University of Findlay on Thursday evening as the Oilers, who are currently ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, used a 14-0 scoring run midway through the second half to pull away for an 81-70 victory.  The Pioneers shot 50% (27 of 54) from the field over the course of the evening but also committed a season-high 23 turnovers.  Malone’s record fell to 1-2 with the hard-fought defeat while Findlay, which won the NCAA Division II National Championship last season with a perfect 36-0 record, improved to 2-0 on the season.

 The Pioneers held a 31-28 advantage with four minutes remaining in the first half of Thursday’s contest but the Oilers outscored Malone 10-2 over the remainder of the period to take 38-33 lead into the locker room at intermission.  Findlay then held the Pioneers scoreless for a nearly five-minute stretch early in the second stanza to grab a commanding 61-41 advantage.

21 of the Oilers’ points came at the foul line as the hosts shot 84.0% (21 of 25) from the charity stripe.  Findlay also totaled 16 steals and shot the ball well from the field, hitting 26 of 56 (46.4%) field-goal attempts, including eight of 19 (42.1%) three-pointers.  Malone held a 37-25 advantage in total rebounds while hitting nine of its 25 (36.0%) shots from beyond the three-point arc and seven of its eight (87.5%) tries from the foul line.

Senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) tossed in 15 points as he made both of his free throw attempts and sank six of seven shots from the field, including the only three-pointer he attempted.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) also tallied 15 points with three assists.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) followed with 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) added seven points, five rebounds, and three assists while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) scored five points and dished out a season-high six assists.

The Pioneers will return to action on Saturday when they face another highly-ranked opponent, NAIA Division II No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University (5-1 overall).  Tip-off for Saturday’s home contest is slated for 4:00 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on WNPQ 95.9 FM and on the internet at www.thelight959.com.  Live statistics will also be available on the internet at http://multimedia.malone.edu/athletics/basketball/mens/xlive.htm.

Malone Overcomes Second-Half Indiana Wesleyan Rally To Knock Off Ninth-Ranked Wildcats, 68-59

The Malone University men’s basketball team registered a 68-59 upset victory at home over NAIA Division II No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon after holding off a strong Wildcat comeback attempt.  The win improved Malone’s overall record to 2-2 on the season while Indiana Wesleyan dropped to 5-2. 

The Pioneers led by as many as 16 points early in the second half before IWU clawed back, outscoring Malone 28-10 over a ten-minute stretch of the final stanza to take its first lead of the game at 48-46 with 6:24 to play.  The Wildcat advantage was short lived, however, as the Pioneers immediately answered with a 13-2 scoring run of their own that put the hosts back in front by nine, at 59-50, with 90 seconds remaining.  IWU would pull to within four after hitting a three-pointer in the final minute but the Pioneers were able to cement the win by connecting on nine of their final 10 free throws.

IWU entered the contest having hit 50.6% of its shot attempts through its first six games but Malone’s defense stymied the Wildcats during the first 20 minutes of play as the Pioneers went to the locker room at intermission with a 30-17 lead after allowing the visitors to make just seven of their 27 (25.9%) shots from the floor in the opening stanza.  Indiana Wesleyan then found some offensive rhythm in the second half, hitting 15 of 33 (45.5%) field goal attempts to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 36.7% (22 of 60).  IWU held a 36-31 advantage in total rebounds but hit just two of 12 (16.7%) three-pointers and 13 of 20 (65.0%) free throws.

The Pioneers shot 51.2% (21 of41) from the floor, 36.4% (4 of 11) from behind the three-point arc, and 78.6% (22 of 28) from the free-throw line, marking the third consecutive game that Malone has made at least half of its field goal tries.

Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) and sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) paced a balanced Malone attack with 14 points apiece.  Senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) followed with 11 points, two steals and two assists.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) tossed in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds while junior forward Vaso Aleksic (Bar, Montenegro) came off the bench to tally eight points and six boards.

Forward Zach Coverstone tallied a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead IWU.

Malone will return to action on Tuesday night as it looks to knock off another highly-ranked opponent, NAIA Division II No. 6 Walsh University, in the 46th annual Mayors’ Cup game.  Tuesday’s contest will be played at Walsh and is slated to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.  The Cavaliers hold a 60-39 advantage in the all-time series with Malone and have won 20 out of the last 22 overall meetings between the two schools.  In the Mayors’ Cup series, Walsh leads 26-19, having won nine of the last ten Mayors’ Cup contests.  Walsh has retired the Cup four times (i.e. winning three straight Mayors’ Cup games) while Malone has retired the Cup three times.  The game will be broadcast live on WNPQ 95.9 FM and on the internet at www.thelight959.com. 

Sixth-ranked Walsh Pulls Away Early For 88-47 Mayors’ Cup Victory

The Malone University men’s basketball team suffered an 88-47 defeat in the 46th annual Mayors’ Cup game on Tuesday evening at Walsh University as the Cavaliers, who entered the contest ranked sixth in the NAIA Division II National Poll, took control in the early going with a 17-0 first-half scoring run.  Walsh shot 53% (37 of 70) from the field in the rivalry contest and dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Pioneers by a 58-27 margin.  With its third consecutive Mayors’ Cup win, Walsh “retired” the Cup for the fifth time in the history of the series while improving its overall record to 5-0.  The loss dropped Malone’s overall mark to 2-3 on the season.

The Pioneers held a 9-8 lead at the 13:49 mark of the opening stanza but Walsh quickly put the game out of reach by outscoring Malone 28-3 over the next seven and a half minutes of play.  Malone shot a season-low 30.6% (19 of 62) from the field and hit only two of its six free throws (33.3%) over the course of the evening. 

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) connected on four of seven three-point attempts, ending the night with three assists and a team-high 14 points.  Senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) tossed in seven points with three rebounds and three assists while sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) came off the bench to score seven.

Forward Ricky Jackson tossed in 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds to pace the Cavaliers.

The Pioneers will now be idle until next Wednesday (December 2nd) when they travel to South Euclid, Ohio to open American Mideast Conference play at 7:00 p.m. against Notre Dame College (5-0 overall).

Late Scoring Drought Proves Costly As Pioneers Fall 70-56 At Notre Dame

The Malone University men’s basketball team suffered a 70-56 defeat in its American Mideast Conference opener at Notre Dame (OH) College on Wednesday evening as the host Falcons held the Pioneers scoreless over the final three minutes of play.  After trailing by as many as 11 points midway through the second half, Malone fought back into the contest, pulling to within one at 57-56 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) with 2:52 remaining.  However, the Pioneers were unable to manufacture any more offense the rest of the way as Notre Dame closed out the game with 13 unanswered points.  Malone’s record dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the AMC with the hard-fought defeat while the Falcons kept their unblemished record intact, improving to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Malone entered the locker room at halftime trailing by just one at 33-32 but then shot under 30% (8 of 27) from the field over the final 20 minutes as the squad made just one of its 12 (8.3%) three pointers during the final stanza.  Notre Dame countered by connecting on 50% (12 of 24) of its second-half field goal attempts, ending the evening with an overall shooting percentage of 49.1% (26 of 53).  The Falcons also took advantage of their frequent trips to the charity stripe, knocking down 16 of 22 (72.7%) free throws. 

On the evening, the Pioneers made 21 of 54 (38.9%) shots from the field, five of 23 (21.7%) three-pointers, and nine of 14 (64.3%) free throws.  Malone held a 39-28 advantage in total rebounds but also committed 21 turnovers. 

Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points.  Coblentz followed with 11, junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) tossed in nine while junior forward Vaso Aleksic (Bar, Montenegro) tallied seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Forward Eric Dummermuth, a Dover High School graduate, poured in 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace the Falcons.

Malone will return to action on Saturday as it hosts NAIA Division II No. 10 Cedarville University (5-3 overall, 0-1 AMC) in a 4:00 p.m. AMC contest.  The game will be broadcast live on WNPQ 95.9 FM and on the internet at www.thelight959.com.  Live statistics will also be available on the internet at http://multimedia.malone.edu/athletics/basketball/mens/xlive.htm.

NAIA No. 10 Cedarville Holds Off Malone Upset Bid With Bucket In Final Seconds

The Malone University men’s basketball team came up just short in its attempt to upset NAIA Division II No. 10 Cedarville University on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Hall as Yellow Jacket guard Chris Beals hit a clutch jumper with five seconds remaining to break a 62-62 tie and lift his squad to a 64-62 American Mideast Conference win.  The Pioneers trailed 62-58 with two minutes remaining before fighting back to tie the game on a pair of baskets by senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.).  Malone then looked to take the lead following a missed Cedarville shot attempt, but the Pioneers committed a traveling violation on their ensuing possession, giving the ball back to the Yellow Jackets with 30 seconds to play.  Cedarville ran down the clock before Beals nailed the game-winner from near 15 feet.  After calling a quick timeout, Malone managed to get off a shot as time expired, but the deep three was off the mark, allowing the Yellow Jackets to escape with the narrow victory.  The Pioneers’ record dropped to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the AMC with the loss while Cedarville improved to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

The Pioneers outscored the Yellow Jackets 9-0 over the final three and half minutes of the opening stanza to enter the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 27-27.  Another 9-0 Malone run midway through the second frame put the Pioneers in front 49-40 with 10:43 showing on the clock.  However, the Yellow Jackets answered back with a 14-5 spurt over the next six minutes to tie the game at 54-54.

Through its first eight games, Cedarville had averaged 92.8 points while shooting just under 53% from the field and 47% from beyond the three-point arc.  Despite these impressive numbers, Malone held the Yellow Jacket offense in check for much of the afternoon as the visitors ended the day with their lowest point total of the season, having shot 43.4% (23 of 53) from the floor and 28.6% (six of 21) from three-point range.  Cedarville committed 22 turnovers in the contest but held a 35-29 advantage in total rebounds and made the most of its trips to the charity stripe, hitting 12 of 13 (92.3%) free throws.  Malone, meanwhile, connected on 22 of 56 (39.3%) field goals, seven of 18 (38.9%) threes and 11 of 17 (64.7%) foul shots.

Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) paced four Pioneers in double figures with 12 points.  Duerr followed with 11 points, six steals, five assists and three rebounds while junior forwards Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) and Vaso Aleksic (Bar, Montenegro) each followed with 11 points apiece.

Guards Derrick Hannon and Matt Harner both scored 14 points to lead the way for Cedarville.

Malone will return to action on Wednesday when it travels to Adrian, Michigan for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference contest against Siena Heights University (8-1 overall).

NAIA No. 19 Siena Heights Rallies Late To Edge Pioneers, 79-77

The Malone University men’s basketball team suffered a narrow 79-77 loss Wednesday night at NAIA Division II No. 19 Siena Heights (MI) University as Saint forward Jake DeRoeck grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed shot attempt and scored with 1.1 seconds remaining to break a 77-77 tie.  The Pioneers led 35-31 at intermission and looked to be in control of the contest in the latter stages of the second half, holding a 77-70 advantage with a little over two minutes to play.  However, Siena Heights was able to fight back, closing out the game with nine unanswered points to hand Malone its second straight two-point defeat to a nationally-ranked opponent.  The Pioneers, now 2-6 overall, lost 64-62 at home Saturday to then NAIA Division II No. 10 Cedarville University when Yellow Jacket guard Chris Beals nailed the game-winning jumper with just five seconds remaining.

Malone shot 49.0% (25 of 51) from the field in Wednesday’s contest and made a season-high 11 three-pointers.  The Pioneers also connected on 16 of 21 (76.2%) free throws, held a 40-31 advantage in total rebounds and dished out 17 assists.  The Saints, now 9-1 on the season, were able to force 21 Malone turnovers while knocking down 29 of their 66 (43.9%) shots from the field, six of their 19 (31.6%) threes, and 15 of their 23 (65.2%) foul shots.

Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) put together an outstanding shooting night as he scored a game-high 21 points after connecting on eight of nine attempts from the floor, including five of six tries from beyond the three-point arc.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) followed with 18 points, junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) tossed in 10 points and pulled down six boards, while junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) scored nine points and blocked three shots. 

Guard Brent Reynolds scored 19 points to pace four Saints in double figures.

Malone will return to action on Saturday when it travels to the University of Akron (4-3 overall) for a 7:00 p.m. contest against the NCAA Division I Zips.  Saturday’s game will mark the Pioneers’ first contest against an NCAA Division I opponent since December 9, 1989 when Malone defeated Cleveland State University by a final score of 94-87.

Tickets for Saturday’s game at James A. Rhodes arena can be purchased in advance at the Malone Sports Information Office in Osborne Hall, 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton.  These tickets are $5.00 each or $3.00 for Malone students (with ID).  Special group rates (youth groups, sports teams, etc.) are available (20 or more tickets).  For further information, please contact the Malone Sports Information Office at 330-471-8293 or Malone Sports Information Director Mark Bankert at mbankert@malone.edu.       

Tough Defense Keys NCAA Division I Akron To 62-30 Victory Over Malone

The Malone University men’s basketball team fell 62-30 at the University of Akron on Saturday in the Pioneers’ first contest against an NCAA Division I opponent since December 9, 1989 when the squad pulled off a 94-87 upset victory at Cleveland State University.  A 12-0 scoring run put the Zips in front 14-2 six minutes into Saturday’s contest.  Despite the sizable early deficit, Malone refused to surrender as the Pioneers outscored Akron 7-3 over the final seven minutes of the first half to trim the Zips’ lead to 31-17 at halftime.  Malone then cut the margin to 12 after scoring on its opening possession of the second frame.  However, the visitors were unable to get any closer over the remainder of the contest thanks to a stifling Akron defensive effort that limited the Pioneers to just 20.4% (11 of 54) shooting from the field over the course of the evening.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 2-7 on the season while the Zips improved to 5-3.

Akron hit 40.3% (25 of 62) of its field-goal attempts, outscored the Pioneers 34-10 in the paint and held a 44-39 advantage in total rebounds.  Malone went 4-for-4 at the foul line but also committed 17 turnovers and made just four of its 23 (17.4%) attempts from beyond the three-point arc. 

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.), who transferred to Malone from Akron prior to the start of the 2009-2010 season, paced the Pioneers with 12 points.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) followed with eight.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) dished out three assists and blocked one shot.

The Zips were led by guard Brett McKnight who totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

Malone will return to action next weekend when its hosts the Canton Comfort Inn Tournament.  The Pioneers will take on Cincinnati Christian University on Friday at 8:00 p.m. before facing Grace (IN) College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Eric Coblentz Pours In A Career-High 39 Points To Lead Pioneers Past Cincinnati Christian University On Day One Of Canton Comfort Inn Classic

The Malone University men’s basketball team opened play at its own Canton Comfort Inn Classic on Friday evening at Osborne Hall with an 89-82 victory over Cincinnati Christian University.  The Pioneers trailed 46-41 at intermission but then outscored the Eagles 48-36 in the second half as sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (pictured to the left; Lake H.S.) tossed in 31 of his career-high 39 points in the final frame.  Malone’s record improved to 3-7 with the victory while CCU dropped to 6-5.

Coblentz hit all 10 of his free-throw attempts and 11 of 19 shots from the field, including seven of 14 three-pointers, to account for his total of 39.  His scoring outburst marked the highest single-game point total for a Pioneer since December 18, 2004 when Shane Conwell netted 46 in a 120-114 overtime victory at home against Ohio Dominican University. 

Malone used an 11-0 run early in the second half of to grab a 60-52 advantage in Friday’s contest.  Cincinnati Christian battled back to within one with a little over nine minutes to play but the visitors were unable to regain the lead the rest of the way as the Eagles shot just 29.4% (10 of 34) from the floor over the final 20 minutes.

CCU had made 19 of its 37 (51.4%) first-half field goals, including eight of its 15 three-point tries, to build the five-point halftime lead.  However, Cincinnati Christian was unable to continue the hot shooting in the second half, ending the night having made 40.8% (29 of 71) of its attempts from the floor, 38.9% (14 of 36) its tries from beyond the three-point arc and 58.8% (10 of 17) of its free throws.  Malone countered by making 29 of 68 (42.6%) field goals, 10 of 21 (47.6%) threes and 21 of 28 (75.0%) foul shots.  The Pioneers held a 48-42 advantage in total rebounds and forced 16 Cincinnati Christian turnovers. 

In addition to his impressive point total, Coblentz also snagged seven rebounds.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) tossed in 16 points and also grabbed seven rebounds while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) totaled 11 points, three assists and four steals.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) came off the bench to contribute six points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Guard Daniel Hunter paced five Eagles in double figures with 17 points.

In Friday’s other Canton Comfort Inn Classic game, Grace (IN) College edged NAIA Division II No. 18 Daemen (NY) College by a final score of 69-67.  The action continues Saturday at Malone’s Osborne Hall as Daemen faces Cincinnati Christian at 1:00 p.m. and Malone takes on Grace at 3:00 p.m.  Free live video streaming and statistics will be available for both of Saturday’s contests.  A streaming audio broadcast of the Malone vs. Grace game will also be provided over the internet at www.thelight959.com and on the radio at 95.9 FM WNPQ.

Malone Falls To Grace 85-76 On Day Two Of Canton Comfort Inn Classic

The Malone University men’s basketball team wrapped up play at its own Canton Comfort Inn Classic on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Hall with an 85-76 loss to Grace (IN) College.  The Lancers led 42-40 at halftime and then held on to their slim advantage throughout the second stanza after shooting over 61% (16 of 26) from the field during the final 20 minutes of play.  The loss dropped Malone’s record to 3-8 on the season while Grace improved to 11-3.

The Lancers used a quick 6-0 run in the opening moments of the second half to stretch their lead to 52-44.  Malone trimmed the deficit to 61-60 midway through the period but Grace then outscored the Pioneers 14-4 over the next three minutes to build a substantial 75-64 lead.  A three-pointer and lay-up on consecutive trips down the floor by sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) pulled Malone to within six with four minutes left, but the Pioneers were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.

Malone shot the ball well on Saturday as the squad made 25 of 50 (50%) field-goal attempts, eight of 16 (50%) three pointers and 18 of 23 (78.3%) free throws.  Grace also had success, though, hitting 54.7% (29 of 53) of its shots from the floor, 45.5% (five of 11) of its three-pointers, and 73.3% (22 of 30) of its foul shots.  The Lancers held a 30-26 advantage in total rebounds and tallied 36 of their points in the paint.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) paced the Pioneers with 19 points and three steals.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) came off the bench to post 18 points and a team-high eight rebounds.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) tallied 14 points while junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) contributed 10 points and three assists.

Forward David Swanson and guard Elliot Smith each tossed in 21 points to lead the way for the Lancers.

Malone will now be idle until January 1-2 when the squad travels to Florida to participate in the Chuck Daly Memorial Classic hosted by Northwood University.  The Pioneers will open play at the event on New Year’s Day with a 7:00 p.m. contest against the host Seahawks, who were ranked fourth in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll.  Malone will then face NAIA Division I Olivet Nazarene (IL) University on January 2nd at 5:00 p.m.

Pioneers Fall To Pair Of Tough Opponents At Florida Tournament

The Malone University men’s basketball team kicked off the New Year this past Friday and Saturday by travelling to West Palm Beach, Florida where it suffered a pair of defeats at the Chuck Daly Memorial Tournament hosted by Northwood University.  The Pioneers opened play at the event on Friday evening with an 84-73 loss to the host Seahawks, who were ranked fourth in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll.  Then on Saturday, Malone fell in a neutral contest to NAIA Division I Olivet Nazarene (IL) University by a final score of 87-72.  With the 0-2 weekend, the Pioneers’ overall record dropped to 3-10.

Friday’s game with Northwood was tied 36-36 with two minutes remaining in the opening stanza before the Seahawks closed out the frame on a 7-0 run to take a 43-36 lead into the locker room at intermission.  Northwood then outscored Malone 13-2 over the first six minutes of the second half to take a commanding 56-38 advantage.  The Seahawk lead later ballooned to as many as 26 points midway through the final stanza.  Malone fought back to within nine at 77-68 with less than a minute remaining but was unable to completely close the sizable gap as Northwood went on to record the 11-point triumph.  The Seahawks held a substantial 45-29 advantage in total rebounds while hitting 42.4% (28 of 66) of their shots from the field, 36.4% (eight of 22) of their three-pointers and 71.4% (20 of 28) of their free throws.  Malone, meanwhile, connected on 20 of 51 (39.2%) field-goal attempts, 11 of 28 (39.3%) three-point tries, and 22 of 27 (81.5%) foul shots.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) tossed in 20 points (6-14 FG, 6-12 3PT FG, 2-2 FT) to lead the way for the Pioneers.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) came off the bench to total 13 points, three assists and two blocks.  Sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) posted 11 points while junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) notched 10.  Northwood was paced by guard Jay Duncan, who scored 19 points, and forward Patrick Horstmann, who tallied 16 points and 17 rebounds.

In Saturday’s contest against Olivet Nazarene, Malone trailed by just three at 65-62 with 4:42 remaining but then was outscored 22-10 over the remainder of the game.  The Tigers held a 47-38 advantage at halftime before the Pioneers fought back to within two points at 57-55 midway through the final stanza.  However, Malone was unable to take the lead before the Tigers once again pulled away en route to the 15-point triumph.  Olivet Nazarene shot just under 50% (26 of 53) from the floor, including 46.2% (six of 13) from three-point range, and took advantage of its frequent trips to the charity stripe, converting on 29 of 38 free throws (76.3%).   Malone also shot the ball well, converting on 26 of 57 shots from the floor (45.6%), 10 of 28 (35.7%) threes and 10 of 14 (71.4%) foul shots.  However, the Pioneers also committed 19 turnovers and trailed 40-27 in total rebounds.

Coblentz poured in a game-high 26 points (8-18 FG, 5-13 3PT FG, 5-5 FT) to go with five rebounds and three assists.  Rottman came off the bench to notch 11 points and four assists while junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) contributed eight points and five rebounds.  Guard Josh Bronke paced Olivet with 25 points.

Malone will return to American Mideast Conference play on Tuesday evening when it travels to Rochester, New York for an 8:00 p.m. contest against Roberts Wesleyan College (6-5 overall, 1-2 AMC).

Pioneers Fall To Pair Of Tough Opponents At Florida Tournament

The Malone University men’s basketball team kicked off the New Year this past Friday and Saturday by travelling to West Palm Beach, Florida where it suffered a pair of defeats at the Chuck Daly Memorial Tournament hosted by Northwood University.  The Pioneers opened play at the event on Friday evening with an 84-73 loss to the host Seahawks, who were ranked fourth in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll.  Then on Saturday, Malone fell in a neutral contest to NAIA Division I Olivet Nazarene (IL) University by a final score of 87-72.  With the 0-2 weekend, the Pioneers’ overall record dropped to 3-10.

Friday’s game with Northwood was tied 36-36 with two minutes remaining in the opening stanza before the Seahawks closed out the frame on a 7-0 run to take a 43-36 lead into the locker room at intermission.  Northwood then outscored Malone 13-2 over the first six minutes of the second half to take a commanding 56-38 advantage.  The Seahawk lead later ballooned to as many as 26 points midway through the final stanza.  Malone fought back to within nine at 77-68 with less than a minute remaining but was unable to completely close the sizable gap as Northwood went on to record the 11-point triumph.  The Seahawks held a substantial 45-29 advantage in total rebounds while hitting 42.4% (28 of 66) of their shots from the field, 36.4% (eight of 22) of their three-pointers and 71.4% (20 of 28) of their free throws.  Malone, meanwhile, connected on 20 of 51 (39.2%) field-goal attempts, 11 of 28 (39.3%) three-point tries, and 22 of 27 (81.5%) foul shots.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) tossed in 20 points (6-14 FG, 6-12 3PT FG, 2-2 FT) to lead the way for the Pioneers.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) came off the bench to total 13 points, three assists and two blocks.  Sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) posted 11 points while junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) notched 10.  Northwood was paced by guard Jay Duncan, who scored 19 points, and forward Patrick Horstmann, who tallied 16 points and 17 rebounds.

In Saturday’s contest against Olivet Nazarene, Malone trailed by just three at 65-62 with 4:42 remaining but then was outscored 22-10 over the remainder of the game.  The Tigers held a 47-38 advantage at halftime before the Pioneers fought back to within two points at 57-55 midway through the final stanza.  However, Malone was unable to take the lead before the Tigers once again pulled away en route to the 15-point triumph.  Olivet Nazarene shot just under 50% (26 of 53) from the floor, including 46.2% (six of 13) from three-point range, and took advantage of its frequent trips to the charity stripe, converting on 29 of 38 free throws (76.3%).   Malone also shot the ball well, converting on 26 of 57 shots from the floor (45.6%), 10 of 28 (35.7%) threes and 10 of 14 (71.4%) foul shots.  However, the Pioneers also committed 19 turnovers and trailed 40-27 in total rebounds.

Coblentz poured in a game-high 26 points (8-18 FG, 5-13 3PT FG, 5-5 FT) to go with five rebounds and three assists.  Rottman came off the bench to notch 11 points and four assists while junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) contributed eight points and five rebounds.  Guard Josh Bronke paced Olivet with 25 points.

Malone will return to American Mideast Conference play on Tuesday evening when it travels to Rochester, New York for an 8:00 p.m. contest against Roberts Wesleyan College (6-5 overall, 1-2 AMC).

Malone Hangs On For Two-Point Victory At Roberts Wesleyan

The Malone University men’s basketball team travelled to Rochester, New York on Tuesday evening where it registered an 85-83 American Mideast Conference win over Roberts Wesleyan College after withstanding a furious Raider comeback attempt in final minutes.  The Pioneers held a comfortable 81-67 lead with under six minutes to play before the hosts stormed back with a 16-2 scoring run that tied the game at 83-83 with 52 seconds remaining.  After being fouled on Malone’s next possession, sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) calmly stepped to the line and drained a pair of clutch free throws to put the Pioneers back in front with 31 ticks showing on the clock.  Roberts Wesleyan was then unable to attempt a shot during its final possession as the Malone defense clamped down, preserving the victory by forcing the Raiders to commit their 23rd turnover of the night in the final seconds.  With the hard-fought win, the Pioneers’ record improved to 4-10 overall and 1-2 in the AMC while Roberts Wesleyan dropped to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

Malone had trailed 46-29 with two minutes remaining in the first half but then closed the stanza on a 7-0 run to trim the Raider lead to 46-36 at intermission.  The Pioneers then dominated the first 14 and a half minutes of the second frame, outscoring the Raiders by a 45-21 margin to build the 81-67 lead.

After making only 10 of 31 (32.3%) field goal attempts over the first 20 minutes of action, Malone heated up in the second frame, converting on 17 of 32 (53.1%) second-half shots to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 42.9% (27 of 63).  Although the Pioneers trailed 41-30 in total rebounds, the squad also swiped a season-high 15 steals and sizzled from beyond the three-point arc and at the foul line, converting on 13 of 26 (50%) threes and 18 of 20 (90.0%) free throws.  Roberts Wesleyan also shot the ball well, sinking 28 of 61 (45.9%) field-goal tries, six of 17 (35.3%) three-pointers and 21 of 25 (84.0%) free throws.

Coblentz tossed in 18 points to pace a balanced Pioneer scoring attack that featured five players in double figures.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (pictured above; Columbus West H.S.) followed with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half, while sophomore guard Cody Miller (Lake Center Christian H.S.) and junior forwards Nick Watts (Holland, MI) and Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) each notched 11 off the bench.  Other contributors included senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) with eight points and four rebounds and senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) with seven points, five assists and four steals.

Forward Nick Bozzelli led the Raiders with 19 points.

The Pioneers will return to upstate New York over the weekend for two more AMC contests.  Malone will be in Amherst, New York on Friday to square off with NAIA Division II No. 18 Daemen College (9-5 overall, 2-0 AMC) in a 7:30 p.m. contest.  Then on Saturday, the squad will play Houghton College (6-7 overall, 1-2 AMC) at 2:00 p.m. in Houghton, New York.

Pioneers Endure Pair Of Tough Losses In New York

The Malone University men’s basketball team travelled to upstate New York over the weekend where it dropped a pair of American Mideast Conference games, falling 94-67 to NAIA Division II No. 18 Daemen College in Amherst, New York on Friday before suffering a narrow 65-63 defeat at the buzzer to Houghton College in Houghton, New York on Saturday.  Following the 0-2 weekend, the Pioneers’ record dropped to 4-12 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

In Friday’s contest, the 18th-ranked Wildcats outscored Malone 27-10 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to build a 43-26 lead at intermission.  Daemen then stretched its advantage to as many as 32 points in the second half as it pulled away for the 94-67 triumph.  The hosts forced 24 Pioneer turnovers, snagged 15 steals and sizzled from beyond the three-point arc, hitting 11 of 23 (47.8%) treys.  Daemen also held a slim 35-33 advantage in total rebounds and shot 52.3% (34 of 65) from the floor and 68.2% (15 of 22) from the foul line over the course of the evening.  Malone countered by hitting 27 of 56 (48.2%) field-goal attempts, six of 19 (31.6%) three-pointers and seven of 12 (58.3%) free throws.

Junior forwards Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) and Nick Watts (Holland, MI) each tossed in 11 points to lead the way for the Pioneers.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) and junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) each followed with nine while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) notched eight points and four assists.  Forward D.J. Johnson tallied 23 points to pace the Wildcats.

Saturday’s contest at Houghton remained close from start to finish as a 38-31 Pioneer advantage in the opening moments of the second half marked the largest lead for either team.  Malone trailed by three at 61-58 with five minutes to play before a pair of free throws by Watts and a three-pointer by senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) put the visitors on top 63-61 with 4:01 remaining.  The score then remained unchanged until the final minute of action as the Highlanders connected on a pair of free throws to knot the score at 63-63.  A missed Malone shot attempt and a Houghton turnover during the game’s next two possessions kept the contest tied and gave the visitors the ball with under 10 seconds remaining.  However, despite their plans for a go-ahead basket, the Pioneers committed a half-court violation allowing the Highlanders one last chance.  Following a timeout, Houghton sophomore guard Mike Amico drove to the hoop and scored just as the final horn sounded to give his squad the dramatic 65-63 victory.

Houghton enjoyed a 36-19 advantage in total rebounds and shot 42.6% (20 of 47) from the field, 28.6% (four of 14) from beyond the arc and 77.8% (21 of 27) from the charity stripe.  Malone, meanwhile, knocked down 22 of 47 (46.8%) field-goal attempts, seven of 22 (31.8%) three-pointers, and 12 of 18 (66.7%) foul shots.

Watts and Duerr each registered 13 points to pace the Pioneers.  Coblentz added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while Porbeni contributed eight points and six boards.  Guard Devin Paige came off the bench to post a game-high 15 points for the Highlanders.

Malone will look to bounce back on Thursday when it hosts a 7:30 p.m. AMC contest against Point Park (PA) University (5-6 overall, 1-1 AMC).

Pioneers Endure Pair Of Tough Losses In New York

The Malone University men’s basketball team travelled to upstate New York over the weekend where it dropped a pair of American Mideast Conference games, falling 94-67 to NAIA Division II No. 18 Daemen College in Amherst, New York on Friday before suffering a narrow 65-63 defeat at the buzzer to Houghton College in Houghton, New York on Saturday.  Following the 0-2 weekend, the Pioneers’ record dropped to 4-12 overall and 1-4 in the conference.

In Friday’s contest, the 18th-ranked Wildcats outscored Malone 27-10 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to build a 43-26 lead at intermission.  Daemen then stretched its advantage to as many as 32 points in the second half as it pulled away for the 94-67 triumph.  The hosts forced 24 Pioneer turnovers, snagged 15 steals and sizzled from beyond the three-point arc, hitting 11 of 23 (47.8%) treys.  Daemen also held a slim 35-33 advantage in total rebounds and shot 52.3% (34 of 65) from the floor and 68.2% (15 of 22) from the foul line over the course of the evening.  Malone countered by hitting 27 of 56 (48.2%) field-goal attempts, six of 19 (31.6%) three-pointers and seven of 12 (58.3%) free throws.

Junior forwards Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) and Nick Watts (Holland, MI) each tossed in 11 points to lead the way for the Pioneers.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) and junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) each followed with nine while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) notched eight points and four assists.  Forward D.J. Johnson tallied 23 points to pace the Wildcats.

Saturday’s contest at Houghton remained close from start to finish as a 38-31 Pioneer advantage in the opening moments of the second half marked the largest lead for either team.  Malone trailed by three at 61-58 with five minutes to play before a pair of free throws by Watts and a three-pointer by senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) put the visitors on top 63-61 with 4:01 remaining.  The score then remained unchanged until the final minute of action as the Highlanders connected on a pair of free throws to knot the score at 63-63.  A missed Malone shot attempt and a Houghton turnover during the game’s next two possessions kept the contest tied and gave the visitors the ball with under 10 seconds remaining.  However, despite their plans for a go-ahead basket, the Pioneers committed a half-court violation allowing the Highlanders one last chance.  Following a timeout, Houghton sophomore guard Mike Amico drove to the hoop and scored just as the final horn sounded to give his squad the dramatic 65-63 victory.

Houghton enjoyed a 36-19 advantage in total rebounds and shot 42.6% (20 of 47) from the field, 28.6% (four of 14) from beyond the arc and 77.8% (21 of 27) from the charity stripe.  Malone, meanwhile, knocked down 22 of 47 (46.8%) field-goal attempts, seven of 22 (31.8%) three-pointers, and 12 of 18 (66.7%) foul shots.

Watts and Duerr each registered 13 points to pace the Pioneers.  Coblentz added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals while Porbeni contributed eight points and six boards.  Guard Devin Paige came off the bench to post a game-high 15 points for the Highlanders.

Malone will look to bounce back on Thursday when it hosts a 7:30 p.m. AMC contest against Point Park (PA) University (5-6 overall, 1-1 AMC).

Malone Rallies Past Point Park With Dominating Second-Half Performance

The Malone University men’s basketball team picked up a 95-73 American Mideast Conference victory at home on Thursday night against Point Park (PA) University as the squad rallied back from a 47-41 halftime deficit by outscoring the visitors by a convincing 54-26 margin over the final 20 minutes of action.  Guards Eric Coblentz (So., Lake H.S.) and Kyle Higgins (Jr., Columbus West H.S.) helped fuel the Malone comeback by combining for 26 points during the final period with Coblentz scoring 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and Higgins contributing 12 of his 15 after intermission.  With the win, Malone improved its record to 5-12 overall and 2-4 in the AMC while Point Park fell to 5-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference. 

Malone came out of the locker room clicking on all cylinders Thursday night, erasing its halftime deficit by outscoring Point Park 27-8 over the first eight minutes of the final stanza.  The visitors answered by tallying seven straight points to pull within 68-62 with a little under 11 minutes to play.  Malone quickly put the game out of reach, though, scoring 12 unanswered points to build a commanding 80-62 lead with 8:04 showing on the clock.

 After shooting a blistering 59.4% (19 of 32) from the field in the opening stanza, Point Park went cold, hitting only nine of its 32 (28.1%) second-half field-goal attempts, including just one of nine (11.1%) threes.  However, it was just the opposite for the host Pioneers in the final period as Malone connected on 19 of 37 (51.4%) shots from the floor, including six of 16 (37.5%) three-pointers over the final 20 minutes to end the night with an overall shooting percentage of 44.2% (34 of 77).  Malone also held a 45-38 advantage in total rebounds and forced 17 Point Park turnovers while making 10 of 28 (35.7%) three-pointers and 17 of 22 (77.3%) free throws.  The visitors ended the night having made 28 of 64 (43.8%) shots from the floor, four of 16 (25.0%) threes and 13 of 21 (61.9%) foul shots.

Coblentz made nine of 19 field goals and all four of his free throws to account for his 22 points.  The 6’2” sophomore also snagged seven rebounds and dished out two assists.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) came off the bench to notch nine rebounds and a season-high 20 points, 18 of which came in the first half.  Higgins followed with his 15 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals.  Other Malone contributors included senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) with eight points and senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) with six points, six rebounds, five steals, and six assists.  Guard T.J. Heatherington led the way for Point Park with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Malone will return to action on Saturday afternoon with a 4:00 p.m. non-conference contest against OSU-Marion.

Pioneers Use Balanced Attack To Roll Past OSU-Marion, 113-57

The Malone University men’s basketball team cruised to a convincing 113-57 victory against The Ohio State University-Marion in non-conference play on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Hall.  The Pioneers hit a season-high 14 three-pointers in the contest, had six players reach double figures, and broke the all-time Malone single-game record for total rebounds with 67.  All 12 Pioneers that played scored as Malone took a 50-32 lead in the locker room at halftime and then was never threatened in the final stanza, pulling away for the 56-point triumph.  The win improved the Pioneers’ overall record to 6-12 on the season and gave Malone its first back-to-back victories of the year.  OSU-Marion, meanwhile, fell to 1-20 with its 20th straight defeat.

The Scarlet Wave jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the opening moments of Saturday’s match-up before the Pioneers took command with an 18-0 scoring run.  OSU-Marion knocked down 18 of its 23 (78.3%) foul shots but struggled from the field, hitting just 18 of 62 (29.0%) shots from the floor, including only three of 27 (11.1%) three-pointers.  The Pioneers dominated the glass with a 67-31 advantage in total rebounds, swiped 14 steals and dished out 17 assists.  Malone also drained 46.3% (38 of 82) of its field-goal tries, 41.2% (14 of 34) of its three-pointers and 71.9% (23 of 32) of its free throws.

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) led the way for Malone with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists in just 21 minutes of action.  Sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) followed with 14 points, three assists and three steals while junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) registered his first double-double of the year with 13 points and 14 boards.  Other Pioneer contributors included guards Jeremy Duerr (Sr., Lake H.S.) and Kyle Higgins (Jr., Columbus West H.S.) with 11 points apiece and junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) with 10 points and five rebounds.  Forward Lathario Jones paced OSU-Marion with 25 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

The Pioneers will return to American Mideast Conference play on Tuesday evening with a 7:30 p.m. contest at the University of Northwestern Ohio (11-8 overall, 3-3 AMC).

Notes: Watts has now reached double figures in five straight games…Malone’s 113 points marked the squad’s highest offensive output since November 25, 2006 when the Pioneers scored 115 in a home victory against Kentucky Christian University…Malone was just three made three-pointers shy of tying the Pioneer single-game record of 17.

Strong Finish Drives Malone To 62-52 Conference Victory At Northwestern Ohio

The Malone University men’s basketball team picked up a 62-52 American Mideast Conference win on Tuesday evening in Lima, Ohio after outscoring the University of Northwestern Ohio 23-9 over the final eight minutes of the contest.   The Pioneers had trailed by four at 43-39 when the Racers hit a three-pointer with 8:03 to play.  However, two made baskets in the paint by Malone forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Jr., Plainfield, IL) and a pair of free throws by forward Nick Watts (Jr., Holland, MI) erased the deficit, putting the Pioneers on top 45-43 with 6:44 showing on the clock.  Malone then never relinquished the lead the rest of the way as the squad limited Northwestern Ohio to just two made field goals and five free throws over the remainder of the game.  The victory gave the Pioneers their first three-game winning streak since January of 2008 while improving Malone’s record to 7-12 overall and 3-4 in the AMC.  The Racers, meanwhile, fell to 12-9 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

UNOH held a 28-24 advantage at intermission following a tightly-contested first half.  The final stanza belonged to Malone, though, as the Pioneers outscored the Racers by a 38-24 margin, allowing Northwestern Ohio to make just eight of 35 (22.9%) shots from the field over the final 20 minutes, including only three of 13 attempts (23.1%) from beyond the three-point arc.  After hitting only nine of 31 (29.0%) field goal tries in the first half, Malone got its offense on track in the second frame, hitting 12 of 23 (52.2%) shots from the floor after intermission to end the night with an overall shooting percentage of 38.9% (21 of 54). The Pioneers held a 45-37 advantage in total rebounds while also connecting on 16 of 20 (80.0%) free throws and four of 14 (28.6%) threes.  UNOH shot 32.8% (21 of 64) from the field over the course of the evening, made four of 18 (22.2%) three-pointers and struggled at the foul line, sinking only six of 14 (42.9%) free throws.

Porbeni tossed in a season-high 19 points, 13 of which came in the second half.  The 6’5” junior forward also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) followed with 16 points and six rebounds while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) totaled eight points, four of those coming on clutch free throws during the final minute.  Duerr also tallied six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  Other contributors included Watts with seven points and a team-high nine rebounds and junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) with seven points and four assists.  Guard Josh Vorst paced Northwestern Ohio with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Pioneers will look to make it four in a row on Saturday when they continue American Mideast Conference play with a 4:30 p.m. contest at Shawnee State University (6-13 overall, 3-3 AMC).

Playoff Picture:  The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this playoff field of six teams. 

With a 3-4 conference record and nine AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently tied for fourth place in the North Division standings, just a ½ game behind third-place Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Pioneers Pick Up Fourth Straight Victory With 65-58 Triumph At Shawnee State

The Malone University men’s basketball team stretched its winning streak to four games on Saturday afternoon in Portsmouth, Ohio as the squad registered a hard-fought 65-58 American Mideast Conference victory at Shawnee State University.  The Pioneers held a slim 30-29 advantage at halftime and then managed to maintain their lead throughout the entire second stanza by shooting a blistering 65.2% (15 of 23) from the field over the final 20 minutes.  The host Bears had trailed by a 57-48 margin with just under eight minutes remaining but then charged back into the game with a 10-2 scoring run that trimmed Malone’s lead to just one at 59-58 with 1:50 to play.  Shawnee State was unable to take the lead, however, as the Pioneers clamped down on the defensive end, holding the Bears off the scoreboard the rest of the way en route to the seven-point victory.  Malone improved to 8-12 overall and 4-4 in the AMC with its third consecutive conference win while Shawnee State fell to 6-14 overall and 3-4 in the AMC.

The Pioneers were down 29-23 with 2 ½ minutes to go in the opening frame but then outscored the Bears 7-0 over the remainder of the period to take a one-point lead into the locker room at intermission.  Malone’s advantage then grew to as many as 11 points midway through the second half before Shawnee State tightened things up with its late scoring surge.

On the afternoon, the Pioneers hit 25 of 53 (47.2%) shots from the field, seven of 16 (43.8%) three-pointers and eight of 11 (72.7%) free throws.  The Bears held a 38-33 advantage in total rebounds but did not shoot the ball as well, connecting on 26 of 64 (37.5%) field-goal tries, five of 14 (35.7%) threes, and five of eight (62.5%) foul shots. 

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) notched a game-high 17 points, all coming in the first half.  After being held scoreless in the first stanza, junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) provided a big lift of the bench in the second period as he went five-for-five from the field, hitting a three-pointer and a free throw for a total of 12 points.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) also played well in the second half, scoring 10 of his 11 points in the final frame while also totaling a team-high eight rebounds over the course of the game.  Other contributors included junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) with 11 points and senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) with four assists and five rebounds.  Guard Keelyn Franklin led the way for Shawnee State with 16 points.

Malone will look to make it five in a row on Tuesday as the squad begins a stretch of six straight home games with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Houghton (NY) College (8-10 overall, 3-5 AMC).   In a previous meeting between the two squads earlier this season, the Highlanders hit a shot at the buzzer to edge the Pioneers by a final tally of 65-63.  Streaming audio, video and statistics will all be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each).  In addition, the contest will also be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.

Playoff Picture:  The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With a 4-4 conference record and eight AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently tied with Daemen (NY) College (12-9 overall, 4-4 AMC) for second place in the North Division standings.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Malone Uses Suffocating Defensive Effort To Record Convincing Conference Win Over Houghton

The Malone University men’s basketball team rolled to its fifth straight victory on Tuesday night with a convincing 77-38 American Mideast Conference win at home against Houghton (NY) College.  The Pioneers locked down on the defensive end throughout the game, forcing 22 Highlander turnovers while allowing the visitors to make just 13 of their 46 (28.3%) shots from the field.  Malone never trailed in the contest as the squad pulled ahead 15-3 in the opening minutes, took a 42-21 advantage into the locker room at halftime and then stretched its lead to as many as 42 points late in the second frame.  With the victory, Malone avenged a 65-63 loss at the buzzer to Houghton on January 9th and matched its win total for the entire 2008-2009 season, improving its record to 9-12 overall and 5-4 in the AMC.  The Highlanders, meanwhile, fell to 8-11 overall and 3-6 in the conference with the tough defeat.

On the evening, the Pioneers held a 39-25 advantage in total rebounds while shooting a season-high 53.4% (31 of 58) from the floor.  Malone also grabbed 13 steals while sinking seven of 19 (36.8%) three-pointers and eight of 12 (66.7%) free throws.  Houghton, which made nine of 13 (69.2%) foul shots and three of 11 (27.3%) tries from beyond the three-point arc, was unable to get its offense on track for much of the night as a made three-pointer on its final possession prevented Malone from breaking the Pioneer all-time mark for fewest points allowed in a game (The Pioneers gave up just 36 in a lop-sided 126-36 victory over Valley Forge during the 1990-1991 season).    

Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (pictured above; Lake H.S.) scored 15 of his game-high 19 points in the first half while also totaling six rebounds, three steals and two assists over the course of the evening.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) came off the bench to post 14 points while junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) added 12 points and six boards.  Other contributors included junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) with 11 points and senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) with a season-high seven assists and five steals.  Guard Ryan Shay paced Houghton with 10 points.

Malone will look to stretch its winning streak to six in a row on Saturday when it hosts Wilberforce University (8-12 overall, 2-6 AMC) in a 4:00 p.m. American Mideast Conference game.  2010 Malone Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees Don Andres ('67 - Basketball), Dave Jones ('89 - Baseball), Brian Kelly ('92 - Track & Field), and Chris Reuscher ('97 - Golf) will be honored at halftime of the contest.  Streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Saturday’s game (click here for links to each).

Playoff Picture:  The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With a 5-4 conference record and seven AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone has moved into sole possession of second place in the North Division standings.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Hot-Shooting Pioneers Rout Wilberforce 110-57 For Sixth Straight Victory

The Malone University men’s basketball team shot a blistering 62.7% (37 of 59) from the field and hit 16 three-pointers on Saturday afternoon to record a lop-sided 110-57 American Mideast Conference victory at home against Wilberforce University.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (pictured left; Lake H.S.) led the Pioneer offensive assault as he poured in a game-high 29 points after connecting on a pair of free throws and 10 of his 15 (66.7%) shots from the field, including seven of 11 (63.6%) attempts from beyond the three-point arc.  Malone, which had six players reach double figures, never trailed in the contest as the squad built a 47-31 halftime lead and then never looked back as it rolled to its sixth consecutive win.  The Pioneers improved to 10-12 overall and 6-4 in the AMC with the victory while Wilberforce dropped to 8-14 overall and 2-8 in the conference.

Malone had 11 different players score in the game as the squad posted season-highs for field-goal percentage, three-pointers, three-point percentage (59.3%) and assists (26).  The Pioneers sank 20 of 23 (87.0%) foul shots and 16 of 27 threes, finishing one trey shy of tying the school’s single-game record of 17.  Wilberforce held a slim 39-37 advantage in total rebounds but committed 15 turnovers and struggled to get its offense going, making 22 of 72 (30.6%) field goal tries, four of 18 (22.2%) three-pointers and nine of 16 (56.3%) free throws over the course of the evening.

Malone received contributions from its entire roster throughout the game as 11 different players scored, 10 players recorded at least two assists and seven different players hit a three-pointer.  Junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) came off the bench to total 14 points and a team-high six rebounds.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) posted 12 points, five boards, three assists and three blocks.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) also tallied 12 points and three assists while senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) and sophomore guard Cody Miller (Lake Center Christian H.S.) each ended the night with 10 points and three assists apiece.  Guard Timothy Giles came off the bench to pace the Bulldogs with 12 points.

Malone will look to make it seven in a row on Tuesday evening when it hosts an important 7:30 p.m. American Mideast Conference game against Notre Dame College.  The Falcons, now 17-6 overall and 9-1 in the AMC, are currently in first place in the AMC North Division standings, three games ahead of the second-place Pioneers who own a 6-4 conference record.  Streaming audio, video and statistics will all be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each).  In addition, the contest will also be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.

Playoff Picture:  The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With a 6-4 conference record and six AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently in sole possession of second place in the North Division standings.

Notes:  Malone’s current six-game winning streak is the longest string of consecutive Pioneer victories since the squad notched seven straight wins midway through its 2007-2008 campaign…Saturday marked the second time this season that Coblentz has drained seven threes (he also knocked down seven en route to a 39-point outburst in Malone’s 89-82 home win over Cincinnati Christian University on December 18th)…The Pioneers’ 62.7% shooting percentage from the floor on Saturday marked Malone’s best shooting performance since December 21, 2006 when the squad knocked down 63.5% (33 of 52) of its shots in a 102-90 victory at Urbana University.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Malone Makes It Seven In A Row With Thrilling 56-55 Triumph Over Notre Dame

The Malone University men’s basketball team stretched its winning streak to seven games on Tuesday evening at Osborne Hall as the squad hung on for a thrilling 56-55 American Mideast Conference victory against visiting Notre Dame (OH) College.  The Falcons, who entered the contest with a three-game lead on the Pioneers in the AMC North Division standings, held a 53-50 advantage with just over 2 ½ minutes to play in regulation.  However, Pioneer guard Kyle Higgins (pictured left; Jr., Columbus West H.S.) led Malone back by hitting clutch three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor to put his squad in front 56-53 with 1:21 showing on the clock.  Notre Dame guard Al Miller answered with a pull-up jumper on the Falcons next possession to trim the deficit to 56-55 with just over a minute remaining.  After calling a timeout following a missed Pioneer shot, Notre Dame ran down the clock for one last attempt but guard Nick McCartney’s potential game-winner clanged off the rim as the buzzer sounded, giving Malone the thrilling, one-point triumph.  The Pioneers improved to 11-12 overall and 7-4 in the AMC with the hard-fought victory while Notre Dame saw its five-game winning streak snapped as the visitors fell to 17-7 overall and 9-2 in the conference.

Malone held a 26-15 advantage with 4 ½ minutes to go in the opening stanza but the Falcons then outscored the Pioneers 7-1 over the remainder of the period to trim the hosts’ lead to 27-22 at intermission.   Malone’s advantage twice grew back to 10 points before Notre Dame went on a 10-0 scoring run to knot the game at 43-43 with less than seven minutes on the clock.  A lay-up by Pioneer sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) ended the Malone drought but the Falcons then managed to take their first lead of the game at 46-45 following a Miller three at the 5:10 mark of the second half.  Notre Dame maintained its slim advantage over the next few minutes before Higgins’ clutch treys put the Pioneers on top for good.

Both teams played tough defense throughout the contest as Malone connected on 20 of 58 (34.5%) shots from the field, nine of 29 (31.0%) three-pointers, and seven of 10 (70.0%) free throws.  Notre Dame countered by hitting 16 of 48 (33.3%) field-goal tries, two of 10 (20.0%) threes, and 21 of 30 (70.0%) foul shots.  The Falcons held a slim 40-35 advantage in total rebounds and outscored Malone 20-14 in the paint.  However, the Pioneers registered 15 points off 11 NDC turnovers while also ending the night with a 16-5 advantage in assists.

Coblentz paced Malone with 16 points and five assists.  Higgins was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc during the final four minutes of the game, ending the night with 12 points.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) added eight points and five rebounds, senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) notched six points and three steals, while junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) came off the bench to tally six points and a team-high six boards.  Forward Eric Dummermuth led the Falcons with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Malone will look to make it eight in a row on Friday evening as the squad continues conference play with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Daemen (NY) College (14-9 overall, 6-4 AMC).  The Wildcats are currently in third place in the AMC North Division standings, a ½ game behind the second-place Pioneers.  Streaming video and statistics will be available over the internet for Friday’s game (click here for links to each).

Playoff Picture: The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With a 7-4 conference record and five AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently second in the North Division standings, now just two games behind Notre Dame.

Notes: The Pioneers’ seven-game winning streak matches the longest string of consecutive victories since the 1998-1999 season when the squad won nine straight…Malone also put together seven-game winning streaks during the 2007-2008, 2006-2007, and 2001-2002 seasons…Tuesday marked the sixth time this year that the Pioneers have been involved in a game decided by two points or less.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Pioneers Grind Out 63-55 Victory Over Daemen To Stretch Winning Streak To Eight Games

The Malone University men’s basketball team continued its late-season surge on Friday evening at Osborne Hall as the squad recorded its eighth consecutive victory with a hard-fought 63-55 American Mideast Conference triumph over visiting Daemen (NY) College.  The contest, which featured seven ties and seven lead changes, remained close from start to finish as the Pioneers’ eight-point advantage in the final moments marked the largest lead for either team.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Malone forward Nick Watts (pictured left; Jr., Holland, MI) put the Pioneers on top 54-48 with a little over two minutes remaining.  The Wildcats split a pair of free throws and then added a dunk during their next two possessions to cut the deficit to three at 54-51 with 1:23 to play.  However, Daemen was unable to get any closer the rest of the way as Malone sealed the win by hitting nine of 12 free throws over the final 63 seconds.  With the victory, the Pioneers avenged a 94-67 loss at Daemen on January 8th and improved their record to 12-12 overall and 8-4 in the AMC.  The Wildcats, meanwhile, dropped to 14-10 overall and 6-5 in the conference with the tough defeat.  

Malone, which entered Friday’s match-up with a ½ game lead on Daemen for second place in the AMC North Division standings, took a 29-26 lead to the locker room at intermission and then remained in front until the 6:49 mark of the second half when a layup by Wildcat guard Jorge Ebanks gave the visitors their first and only advantage of the second stanza at 43-42.  A three-point play by Pioneer forward Jock Rottman (Jr., Triway H.S.) quickly put the hosts back in front 45-43. Daemen would tie it on its next trip down the floor before clutch back-to-back three-pointers by Malone guards Cody Miller (So., Lake Center Christian H.S.) and Eric Coblentz (So., Lake H.S.) gave the Pioneers the lead for good.

Malone’s strong shooting from beyond the three-point arc and at the foul line proved to be the difference as the Pioneers knocked down 18 of 22 (81.8%) free throws and 19 of 46 (41.3%) shots from the floor, including seven of 13 (53.8%) tries from three-point range.  Daemen made eight of 10 (80.0%) foul shots and 23 of 55 (41.8%) field goals but was ice-cold from beyond the arc, making just one of its 17 (5.9%) treys.

Coblentz paced the hosts with 17 points and five boards.  Junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) followed with 11.  Watts and Rottman each provided a lift off the bench as Watts totaled 11 points and a team-high six rebounds while Rottman notched eight points.  Forward Devon Dawson led the way for the Wildcats with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Malone will look to make it nine in a row on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College (12-10 overall, 5-6 AMC) in a 4:00 p.m. contest.  The Raiders, who lost at Walsh University 79-43 on Friday evening, are currently in fourth place in the AMC North standings, 2 ½ games behind the second-place Pioneers.  Streaming audio, video and statistics will all be available over the internet for Saturday’s game (click here for links to each).  In addition, the contest will also be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.

Playoff Picture: The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With an 8-4 conference record and four AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently second in the North Division standings, now just 1 ½  games behind first-place Notre Dame (OH) College.

Notes:The Pioneers’ eight-game winning streak is the longest string of consecutive Malone victories since the 1998-1999 season when the squad won nine straight…The Pioneers entered Friday’s contest leading the AMC in free-throw shooting with an overall percentage of 74.0%...Malone also entered Friday leading the conference in three-pointers made with 192…Coblentz entered Friday’s game as the AMC’s leader in both free-throw percentage (88.5%) and three-pointers made (73).

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

Strong Second-Half Performance Helps Roberts Wesleyan Snap Malone’s Eight-Game Winning Streak

The Malone University men’s basketball team had its streak of eight consecutive victories come to an end on Saturday afternoon at Osborne Hall as visiting Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College overcame a 53-41 halftime deficit, out-scoring the Pioneers 51-23 over the final 20 minutes to record a 92-76 American Mideast Conference triumph.  After allowing Malone to hit nearly 50% of its field goal attempts in the first half, including six of 11 (54.5%) three pointers, the Raiders clamped down on the defensive end in the final stanza, forcing 12 Pioneer turnovers while limiting the hosts to just 22.6% (seven of 31) shooting from the field during the second period, including only 7.7% (one of 13) from beyond the three-point arc.  Malone’s record dropped to 12-13 overall and 8-5 in the AMC with the tough defeat while Roberts Wesleyan improved to 13-10 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

The Pioneers led by as many as 18 points with 2 ½ minutes to play in the opening stanza.  Roberts Wesleyan cut the deficit to 12 at intermission and then opened the second frame on a 26-8 scoring run to grab a 67-61 advantage with 9:52 showing on the clock.  A tip-in by Malone guard Cody Miller (So., Lake Center Christian H.S.) on the Pioneers’ next possession cut the deficit to four at 67-63, but the hosts got no closer the rest of the way as the Raiders pulled away for the win.

On the afternoon, Malone knocked down 35.5% (22 of 62) of its field-goal tries, 29.2% (seven of 24) of its three-pointers, and 89.3% (25 of 28) of its free throws.  Roberts Wesleyan countered by sinking 33 of its 55 (60.0%) field goals, two of its seven (28.6%) threes and 24 of its 32 (75.0%) foul shots.  The Raiders trailed by a narrow 34-32 margin in total rebounds but also outscored the Pioneers 48-16 in the paint and held a 20-5 advantage in fast-break points.

Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) paced five Pioneers in double figures with 18 points.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (pictured above; Plainfield, IL) followed with 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.  Sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) tossed in 11 points and dished out four assists.  Junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) also posted 11 while junior guard Kyle Higgins (Columbus West H.S.) totaled 10 points.  Center Alif Bland made his presence felt inside for the Raiders as he registered game-highs of 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on Tuesday as they host NAIA Division II #2 Walsh University (23-2 overall, 11-1 AMC) at 7:30 p.m.  The Cavaliers entered Saturday with a 1 ½ game lead on Cedarville University for first place in the AMC South Division standings.  Malone, meanwhile, remains in second place in the AMC North, 1 ½ games in front of both Roberts Wesleyan and  Daemen (NY) College, who are currently tied for third.  Streaming audio, video and statistics will all be available over the internet for Tuesday’s game (click here for links to each).  In addition, the contest will also be broadcast on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.

Playoff Picture: The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With an 8-5 conference record and three AMC games remaining on its schedule, Malone is currently second in the North Division standings.

Notes: Roberts Wesleyan’s 60% shooting on Saturday marked the highest field-goal percentage compiled by a Malone opponent so far this season…The Pioneers had held their opponents under 60 points in six straight games prior to the Raiders’ 92-point outburst on Saturday.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

AMC Men's Playoff Bracket:

Top-Ranked Walsh Escapes Osborne Hall With Narrow 68-62 Victory Over Pioneers

The Malone University men’s basketball team came up just short in its upset bid of NAIA Division II No. 1 Walsh University at Osborne Hall on Tuesday evening as the visiting Cavaliers outscored the Pioneers 6-0 over the final 90 seconds to record a hard-fought 68-62 American Mideast Conference victory.  A pair of made free throws by Malone guard Eric Coblentz (So., Lake H.S.) had knotted the contest at 62-62 with 1:30 to play but an offensive rebound and put-back by Walsh guard Lamar Skeeter on the Cavaliers ensuing possession put the visitors back in front 64-62 with just over a minute remaining.  Malone then came up empty on its next three trips down the floor as Walsh secured the victory by sinking its final four free throws.  The narrow defeat drops the Pioneers’ record to 12-14 overall and 8-6 in the AMC while the Cavs improved to 24-2 overall and 12-1 in the conference with their fifth consecutive win.

Fueled by the support of a large crowd, including a spirited student section that was clad in “White-Out” T-shirts, Malone stormed out to an early 17-3 lead after connecting on its first six shots from the field.  Senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) and junior guard Kyle Higgins (pictured left; Columbus West H.S.) each hit a pair of threes in the opening minutes to key the early surge.  Although Malone maintained an advantage throughout the entire first half, Walsh was able to slowly chip away at the deficit, trimming the Pioneer lead to 34-30 at intermission.  The Cavaliers scored the first six points of the second stanza, taking their first lead of the game on a bucket by center Kyelce Cescato with 18:02 showing on the clock.  The contest then remained close until the final moments as the second half featured a total of seven ties and nine lead changes.

After connecting on seven of its 16 (43.8%) threes in the opening period, Malone went cold from beyond the arc in the second stanza, hitting just one of its 10 (10.0%) treys over the final 20 minutes to end the night with an overall three-point percentage of 30.8%.  On the evening, the Pioneers shot 41.5% (22 of 53) from the field overall and 83.3% (10 of 12) from the foul line.  The Cavaliers countered by knocking down 43.3% (26 of 60) of their shots from the floor, 30.8% (four of 13) of their threes and 75.0% (12 of 16) of their free throws.  Walsh committed 13 turnovers but also held a commanding 44-27 advantage on the boards with 18 offensive rebounds leading to a total of 18 Cavalier second-chance points.

Higgins made six of his eight shots from the field, including five of seven threes to end the night with a game-high 17 points.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) followed with 12 points, three assists and four rebounds.  Coblentz added eight points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.  Playing in their final regular-season home game, Duerr and forward Mark Young (Sr., Jackson H.S.) each put together solid performances as Duerr registered six points while Young tallied eight points, three boards and two steals.  Forward Ricky Jackson paced four Walsh players in double figures with 15 points.

Malone will return to action on Saturday when the squad travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a 4:00 p.m. AMC contest against Point Park University (8-13 overall, 4-8 AMC).  Earlier this season (January 14th), Malone topped Point Park at Osborne Hall by a final tally of 95-73. 

Notes: The Cavaliers entered Tuesday’s contest ranked second in NAIA Division II with an average of 94.6 points per game…Tuesday’s scoring total of 68 points marked the lowest offensive output for Walsh so far this season…Eric Coblentz went a perfect three-for-three from the foul line on Tuesday and currently leads the AMC in free throw percentage at 89.9% (80 of 89).

Playoff Picture: The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With an 8-6 conference record and two AMC games remaining on its schedule (at Point Park on Saturday and at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University on Feb. 20th), Malone is currently second in the North Division standings, 1 ½ games behind first-place Notre Dame (OH) College and ½ game ahead of third-place Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

AMC Men's Basketball Playoff Bracket:

Hot-Shooting Malone Holds Off Point Park To Clinch AMC Playoff Spot

The Malone University men’s basketball team picked up an important American Mideast Conference road victory on Saturday afternoon at Point Park (PA) University as the squad shot nearly 60% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers en route to a 98-95 triumph.  The three-point win, combined with Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College’s loss at Daemen (NY) College on Saturday, clinched an AMC Postseason Tournament spot for Malone and improved the Pioneers’ record to 13-14 overall and 9-6 in the conference.  The loss, meanwhile, dealt a serious blow to Point Park’s playoff chances as the hosts dropped to 9-14 overall and 5-9 in the AMC.

Incredibly, Malone drained 11 of its 13 three-pointers (84.6%) over the first 20 minutes to build a 60-46 halftime advantage.  The visitors then maintained a comfortable lead until a 10-0 PPU scoring run pulled Point Park to within two at 93-91 with 3 ½ minutes to play.  Malone guard Kyle Higgins (pictured left; Jr., Columbus West H.S.), who ended the night with a team-high 25 points, then managed to bring his squad’s scoring drought to an end, sinking two free throws to push the lead to 95-91.  A Point Park steal and lay-up pulled the hosts back to within two at 95-93 with 2:09 showing on the clock before Malone guard Eric Coblentz (So., Lake H.S.) answered on the visitors’ next trip down the floor, draining a three to push the lead back to five at 98-93.  PPU then made things interesting in the final minute as another Point Park steal and lay-up with 51 ticks remaining made the score 98-95.  Malone then committed an offensive foul on its next possession, giving the ball back to Point Park with 21 seconds to go.  Following a timeout, PPU guard T.J. Heatherington launched a three just before time expired, but his potential game-tying shot bounced off the rim as the final horn sounded, sealing the Malone victory.

After its sizzling three-point shooting performance in the first half, Malone came back to room temperature in the second stanza, hitting four of 13 (30.8%) treys over the final 20 minutes to conclude the afternoon with an overall three-point percentage of 57.7%.  MU also shot the ball well from inside the arc and at the foul line over the course of the game, converting on 37 of its 62 (59.7%) overall attempts from field and nine of its 13 (69.2%) foul shots.  Point Park had success from the floor, connecting on 37 of 73 (50.7%) field goals and five of 12 (41.7%) threes, but the hosts struggled at the foul line, hitting just 16 of their 30 (53.3%) free throws.  PPU scored 34 points off 20 Malone turnovers but also trailed 38-32 in total rebounds.   

Higgins made eight of 12 shots from the field and seven of 11 threes on the afternoon as 23 of his 25 total points and all seven of his threes came in Malone’s big first half.  Coblentz followed with 20 points (7-15 FG, 4-10 3PT FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and three assists.  Junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL) notched 16 points, 11 boards and four assists while senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) matched his season-high with seven assists.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) and sophomore guard Jordan Lindesmith (Jackson H.S.) each provided a lift off the bench as Watts tallied 13 points and six rebounds while Lindesmith tossed in nine points and dished out four assists.  Heatherington led the way for Point Park with 25 points, five assists and four steals.

The Pioneers will now be idle until Saturday when the squad concludes its regular season schedule with a 7:30 p.m. AMC contest at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (11-15 overall, 3-10 AMC). 

Notes: Saturday marked the ninth time this season that Malone has drained 10 or more three-pointers…The Pioneers’ 57.7% shooting from beyond the arc on Saturday marked the second time Malone has eclipsed 55% from three-point range this season as the squad hit 16 of 27 (59.3%) treys in a lop-sided 110-57 victory over Wilberforce University on January 30th…Including his 2-for-2 performance from the foul line on Saturday, Eric Coblentz has now hit 13 consecutive free throws over the past four games…Coblentz entered Saturday’s contest with the fourth-best free throw percentage in all of NAIA Division II at 89.9% (80 of 89).

Playoff Picture: The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division will qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With an 9-6 conference record and just one AMC game remaining on its schedule (at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University on Feb. 20th), Malone is currently second in the North Division standings, 1 ½ games behind first-place Notre Dame (OH) College and one game ahead of third-place Daemen (NY) College.

Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s contest at MVNU and the other conference games that will be played throughout the coming week, Malone could still claim a share of the AMC North Division Title.  In another scenario, the Pioneers would finish second in the division, in which case they would host a first-round contest against the AMC South Division’s third-place finisher.  However, regardless of the outcome of this week’s games, Malone has assured itself of a spot in the six-team AMC Postseason Tournament with Saturday’s victory at Point Park.

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

AMC Men's Basketball Playoff Bracket:

Pioneers Drop Regular Season Finale 65-64 At MVNU In Overtime; Malone Set To Open AMC Tournament Play At Cedarville On Tuesday

The Malone University men’s basketball team suffered a narrow 65-64 overtime defeat in its regular-season finale at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday evening as the host Cougars held the Pioneers to just six points over the final 12 minutes of action, which included two points during the last seven minutes of regulation and four points in the five-minute overtime period.  Despite the tough defeat, Malone had already secured a spot in the American Mideast Conference Postseason Tournament with its win at Point Park (PA) University last Saturday.  The Pioneers, now 13-15 overall and 9-7 in the AMC, will travel to NAIA Division II No. 16 Cedarville University on Tuesday evening for an opening-round playoff game against the Yellow Jackets at 7:30 p.m.  Mt. Vernon Nazarene, meanwhile, ended its season at 13-16 overall and 5-11 in the conference with the hard-fought victory.

A three-pointer by Pioneer guard Kyle Higgins (Jr., Columbus West H.S.) put the visitors in front 58-50 with 7:04 to go in regulation before the Cougars clawed back  into the game, rattling off 10 unanswered points to take their first lead of the second half at 60-58 with 18 seconds remaining.  Following a timeout, Malone sophomore guard Eric Coblentz (Lake H.S.) drove into lane and dished the ball off to junior forward Ebiowei Porbeni (Plainfield, IL), who hit a shot from the paint just as the buzzer sounded to end the Pioneer scoring drought and send the contest into overtime knotted at 60-60.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene scored the first three points of the extra frame before a pair of free throws by senior guard Jeremy Duerr (pictured above; Lake H.S.) pulled Malone back to within one at 63-62.  Cougar guard Brandon Short answered with a lay-up on MVNU’s next trip down the floor, pushing his squad’s advantage back to three at 65-62 with 2:11 to play.  Coblentz then made it 65-64 after connecting on a jumper on Malone’s ensuing possession.  Following missed shot attempts by each team, Duerr came up with a clutch steal to give the ball back to the Pioneers with under 20 seconds remaining on the overtime clock.  After a timeout, Malone managed to get off a pair of shots in the final moments, but neither of its potential game-winning attempts would fall as MVNU snagged a defensive rebound just before time expired to secure the one-point triumph.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene trailed 33-22 at halftime after converting on just seven of its 30 (23.3%) first-half field goals.  The Cougars picked things up over the remainder of the game, though, hitting 13 of 26 (50.0%) second-half shots from the floor and two of three (66.7%) overtime attempts to end the game with an overall shooting percentage of 37.3% (22 of 59).  MVNU also knocked down three of 13 (23.1%) three-pointers and 18 of 27 (66.7%) foul shots over the course of the evening.  Malone countered by connecting on 23 of 61 (37.7%) shots from the field, five of 20 (25.0%) treys, and 13 of 19 (68.4%) free throws.  The Cougars held a 46-36 advantage in total rebounds and outscored the Pioneers by a 34-16 margin in the paint.

Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) came off the bench to pace Malone with 13 points.  Coblentz followed with 12 points and three steals while Porbeni and junior forward Jock Rottman (Triway H.S.) each added 11.  Duerr ended the night with five points, six rebounds and six steals.  Senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) also made significant contributions with five points and a team-high eight rebounds.  Guard Travis Brown paced MVNU with 22 points.

Notes: Tuesday’s contest at Cedarville will mark the second meeting of the year between the two squads as the Yellow Jackets edged Malone at Osborne Hall on December 5th by a final score of 64-62...Malone won nine of its final 12 regular-season games…Cedarville enters the postseason on a six-game winning streak, having registered victories in 12 of its last 13 games.

Playoff Picture:  The top three teams from the AMC North Division and the top three teams from the AMC South Division qualify for postseason play.  Two automatic bids will be awarded to the NAIA Division II National Tournament from this six-team playoff field. 

With a 9-7 conference record, Malone concluded the regular season in a three-team tie with Daemen (NY) College and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College for second place in the North Division standings.  Daemen tallied the best record among the three teams to earn the No. 2 North seed.  The Pioneers then claimed the tie-breaker over Roberts Wesleyan for the third and final North playoff spot by virtue of their win over Daemen on January 8th (Roberts Wesleyan’s two losses to Daemen this year caused the Raiders to miss out on postseason play).

AMC Men's Basketball Standings

AMC Men's Basketball Playoff Pairings

AMC Men's Basketball Playoff Bracket (PDF)

NAIA Division II No. 14 Cedarville Downs Malone 81-58 In Opening Round of AMC Tournament

The Malone University men’s basketball team fell 81-58 on the road to Cedarville University Tuesday evening in the first round of the American Mideast Conference Postseason Tournament as the host Yellow Jackets took control of the contest with a 19-0 scoring run midway through the first half.  The opening-round playoff loss brings Malone’s season to a close as the squad ends the year with a final overall record of 13-16.  Cedarville, ranked 14th in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll, improves to 23-8 with the victory and will travel to Amherst, New York on Saturday to face Daemen College in the tournament’s second round.

Malone jumped out to a 17-11 lead eight minutes into Tuesday’s contest before Cedarville stormed back, outscoring the Pioneers 30-7 over the remainder of the first half to take a commanding 41-24 advantage into the locker room at intermission.  A three-pointer by Malone guard Eric Coblentz (pictured left; So., Lake H.S.) pulled the Pioneers to within 41-27 at the start of the second stanza, but the visitors were unable to get any closer the rest of the way as the Yellow Jackets went on to record the 81-58 postseason victory.

Cedarville shot the ball well throughout the evening, hitting 14 of 16 (87.5%) free throws and 28 of 57 (49.1%) field goals, including 11 of 24 (45.8%) three-pointers.  Malone countered by knocking down 24 of 59 (40.7%) shots from the field, six of 18 (33.3%) threes and four of eight (50.0%) attempts from the charity stripe.  The Pioneers committed just eight turnovers on the night compared to 14 for the Yellow Jackets but Cedarville was able to overcome the miscues with its hot shooting and dominating 44-23 advantage in total rebounds. 

Coblentz made six of 12 shots from the floor including three of six tries from beyond the three-point arc to end the night with a team-high 15 points.  Junior forward Nick Watts (Holland, MI) came off the bench to post 11.  Senior guard Jeremy Duerr (Lake H.S.) and senior forward Mark Young (Jackson H.S.) also put together solid performances as Duerr registered seven points, five boards, four steals and three assists while Young notched seven points and four rebounds.  Forward Matt Harner tossed in a game-high 24 points for Cedarville with guard Chris Beals adding 19 points and center Ricardo Alliman recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Notes:  After a 4-12 start to the season, Malone won nine of its final 12 regular-season games to qualify for the conference tournament…The Pioneers led the conference in free-throw shooting during the regular season, hitting 75% (397 of 529) of their foul shots…Cedarville and Malone entered the postseason ranked first and second, respectively, in the AMC in three-pointers made this year as the Yellow Jackets hit 251 threes while the Pioneers connected on 234 attempts from long range…Coblentz’s 87 made three-pointers in 2009-2010 marked the most treys hit by a Pioneer since Jesse Schlabach drained 93 during the 2006-2007 campaign....Coblentz led the conference in both free-throw shooting (90.1%) and three-pointers made per game (3.0) during the regular season.