Box Score

The Malone University men's basketball team (2-2 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) couldn't overcome a cold shooting night, dropping their first ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) basketball game to Michigan Tech University 71-58 on Thursday evening at Osborne Hall.

The Pioneers did an admirable job defending the 2011-12 GLIAC player of the year, Ali Haidar, holding him to 22 points, (seven points below his season average) but a late second-half run propelled the Huskies (3-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) to victory.

Junior guard Isiah Elliott continued his steady play, recording his third 20-point performance of the season with a game-high 24 points to keep Malone close. His driving layup with nine minutes remaining pulled the Pioneers to within eight at 49-41 but a 15-3 Michigan Tech spurt over the next five minutes swelled the visitors' lead to 20 points.

Junior forward Cory Veldhuizen chipped in with eight points and six boards for Malone but battled foul trouble all night, eventually fouling out late in the ballgame.  Junior forward Vince Kazmierczak added seven points

Haidar's 22 points and six rebounds led the Huskies but he received much needed help. Phil Romback recorded a double with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Austin Armga added 15 points.

Malone was held to 20 of 59 (33.9%) shooting from the field and four of 15 (26.7%) accuracy from three-point range while the Huskies shot much higher clips of 56.5% (26 of 46) from the floor and 40% (4 of 10) from distance.

Malone will return to the hardwood when they host Northern Michigan University (1-3 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) on Saturday with tipoff slated for 1:00 pm.  Live statistics will be provided during the game at http://www.sidearmstats.com/malone/mbball/scoreboard.aspx