Box score

Playing at NCAA Division I Southern Methodist University (TX) as part of the Hoops for Hope Classic on Monday, the Malone University men's basketball team lost the contest by the score of 81-47. In what was an exhibition game for Malone but a countable game for SMU, the contest marked the third of four games that the Pioneers will play this season against NCAA Division I competition (three exhibitions and one regular-season game at Missouri State University on Wednesday).  While Malone remains at 2-0 on the season, the Mustangs improved their 2012-13 record to 4-0 with the victory.

In the first half, the host Mustangs, led by Hall of Fame head coach Larry Brown, who is in his first year at the helm of the SMU program, gave up the first basket of the game to Malone to trail 3-0 but then scored 13 straight points to take an early commanding lead, one that would not be tested for the remainder of the night.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as 24 points in the first half but did trim their deficit to just 14 points, at 39-25, with 2:37 left in the half before heading into the locker room trailing by 18 (45-27) at the intermission.  The three-point shot accounted for 21 of those 27 Pioneer first-half points as Malone drilled seven of 19 three-point attempts in the first frame.

In the second half, Malone held its own for the first portion of the final frame before the hosts slowly pulled away to post a lead as large as 39 points (80-41 with 2:43 left) prior to notching the win at 81-47.

Malone was paced by guard Isiah Elliott who tossed in 18 points, all of which came from three-point range as he hit six of eight from long range on the night. Forward David Goodwater followed with eight points for the squad while also grabbing a team-best seven rebounds in only 18 minutes of play.

SMU's Jalen Jones led four Mustangs in double digit scoring as he netted a game-high 20 points.  Nick Russell paced the team in rebounds with six.

While Malone connected on 23.2% of its field goal attempts (13-56), SMU tallied 57.7% (30-52).  The percentages from long range were fairly even although the visiting Pioneers drilled over twice as many from beyond the arc (Malone 9-31 for 29.0%; SMU 4-13 for 30.8%). Malone held a slightly better percentage at the foul line at 80.0% (12-15) to 77.3% (17-22) while the host Mustangs grabbed the slim rebounding margin by a 38-34 count.

Malone will next compete at NCAA Division I Missouri State University (1-2) on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. EST (7:05 p.m. CST) in another Hoops for Hope Classic game.  Live stats, live video and live audio will be available for this contest.