Box Score  |  Photo Gallery

The Malone University men's basketball team, ranked 23rd in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll, came up just short in its upset bid of No. 1-ranked Walsh University on Thursday night at Osborne Hall as the Cavaliers withstood a late Pioneer rally to record an 80-77 American Mideast Conference victory. Walsh held what appeared to be a nearly insurmountable 73-59 advantage with just under four minutes remaining in the contest before Malone roared back, cutting the deficit to one at 78-77 on a three-point play by guard Eric Coblentz with just 13.6 seconds showing on the clock. The Pioneers fouled immediately on Walsh's ensuing inbounds play, sending Cavalier guard Lamar Skeeter to the line. With 12.6 remaining, the senior calmly drained both of his clutch attempts to push the Walsh lead to three. The Pioneers quickly moved the ball down the court and managed to get off a pair of potential game-tying three-point attempts in the final moments, but neither shot would fall before the buzzer sounded, allowing the Cavaliers to hang on for the win. Malone's record dropped to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the AMC with the tightly-contested defeat. Walsh, meanwhile, kept its unblemished 2010-11 record intact, improving to 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference.

Malone's late rally was kick-started with an intentional foul call during the battle for rebounding position on a Pioneer free-throw. As Coblentz drained his second of two attempts to make the score 73-61, Walsh was whistled for the infraction underneath the basket, allowing Malone to retain the ball in addition to sending forward Jock Rottman to the line for two more free throws. Rottman connected on both attempts and forward Ebiowei Porbeni followed with a bucket in the paint to give the Pioneers six points on their trip down the floor. Guard Isiah Elliott then split a pair of free throws and Coblentz added a jumper to complete a 9-0 Malone run, making the score 73-68.

Cavalier guard Eric Schiele managed to stop the bleeding on Walsh's next possession. Falling backwards, Schiele heaved a three from the corner that found the bottom of the net as the shot clock expired to push the Cavalier lead back to eight at 76-68. A driving layup by Elliott and two baskets in the paint by Porbeni brought Malone to within two at 76-74 with less than 30 seconds remaining. Walsh forward Terrance Santil, who entered the contest having made just five of 13 free throws on the year, was then fouled. Despite his struggles at the charity stripe through the Cavaliers' first 14 games, Santil stepped to the foul line and made both of his attempts to put the Cavaliers back in front by four with 20 ticks to play. Coblentz added three of his game-high 23 points on the Pioneers' next possession but his lay-up and ensuing free throw would turn out to be Malone's final points of the night.

The Pioneers trailed 38-27 at intermission after hitting just 10 of their 32 (31.3%) field goals over the first 20 minutes. Malone bounced back in the second stanza, though, making 18 of 36 (50%) shots from the floor to end the game with an overall percentage of 41.2% (28 of 68). The Pioneers also hit seven of 23 (30.4%) three-pointers and 14 of 18 (77.8%) free throws over the course of the evening. Walsh countered by knocking down 47.5% (28 of 59) of its overall shot attempts, 40.0% (eight of 20) of its threes and 84.2% (16 of 19) of its foul shots. The Cavs held a slim 39-35 advantage in total rebounds. Each team grabbed six steals with Walsh committing 17 turnovers compared to Malone's 13 miscues.

Coblentz grabbed seven rebounds, four of them offensive, to go with his game-high point total. Porbeni followed with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Forward Cory Veldhuizen posted the first double-double of his career with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Elliott finished with 10 points and three assists. 

Rottman posted five points, including a 3-for-4 performance at the foul line.  His first attempt from the charity stripe clanged off the front  of the rim, snapping an incredible string of 42 made free throws that dated back to mid-November.  Although he finished three free throws shy of tying the Malone record for consecutive foul shots made, Rottman has drained 46 of 48 on the year for an incredible 95.8%.

Despite fouling out with nearly three minutes to go, guard Jeremy Shardo paced Walsh with 21 points, three rebounds and three steals. Skeeter and forward L.J. Sutton each added 14 points with Sutton also contributing 10 boards. Santil also reached double figures for the Cavs with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Saturday when they host a 4:00 p.m. AMC contest against Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College (7-8 overall, 1-3 AMC). Fans that cannot be in attendance at Osborne Hall can follow the action online with live statistics.