Box Score
Junior Isiah Elliott's 30-foot runner at the buzzer fell just short as the Lake Erie men's basketball team (5-7, 2-6 GLIAC) defeated Malone University 82-79 to drop the Pioneers to 6-6 on the season and 4-5 in GLIAC play.
    
Elliott led all scorers with 19 points but was held to 4-13 shooting and just 1-10 on three-pointers. Senior Zach Bates was much more efficient from the floor, going 7-8 to finish with a season-high 16 points. Junior Che Richardson finished with a double-double scoring 13 points and collecting 11 rebounds while junior Vince Kazmierczak added 11 points.
    
Lake Erie jumped out to a 17-9 lead to start the game but the Pioneers would close the gap quickly behind a 10-1 run, aided by seven points from Elliott. The score remained tight the rest of the half but Daniel Wise's layup at the first half buzzer sent the Pioneers into halftime with a 38-37 lead.
    
The score remained tight over the entire second half with neither team holding a lead greater than 5 points at any time. The Pioneers used back-to back three pointers from Kazmierczak sandwiched around the eight minute mark to take their last lead of the game, 67-64. However, an ensuing 10-2 run from the Storm cemented the win.
    
Malone had several chances to tie in the game's final minutes. The Pioneers retained possession trailing by three with 31 seconds but Elliott lost the ball on a drive to the basket after losing his footing. Their final opportunity came after Lake Erie's Jamil Dudley, who led the storm with 18 points, missed a pair of free-throws with seven second to play. Bates secured the rebound and hit Elliott with an outlet pass but the junior guard was ridden heavily in the backcourt and could only muster a desperation heave.
    
Malone finished the game 27-57 from the field (47.4%) and 8-24 on three-pointers (33.3%) while the Storm shot 30-52 (57.7%) and 5-9 from three (55.6%). Lake Erie also won the battle on the boards 34-27.
    
The Pioneers return home on Saturday, Jan. 12th, to host Ashland University (4-8, 2-7 GLIAC) at 1:00 p.m. Live stats will be available for this contest.