Box Score

Senior Zach Bates opened the scoring with a 15-foot jumper and the Malone University men's basketball team never looked back Thursday night, recording a wire-to-wire home win over the Hillsdale (MI) College Chargers, 79-58.

Junior Isiah Elliott, fresh off winning the GLIAC South Player of the Week award, continued his torrid scoring pace, pouring in a game-high 27 points. He received help from Bates, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, junior Che Richardson, who added 12 points and five rebounds and junior Cory Veldhuizen, who finished with 10 points and six boards.

The Pioneers (10-6 overall, 8-5 GLIAC) raced out of the gates to a 23-11 lead. Bates scored the Pioneers' first six points before relinquishing the reins over to Elliott and junior Vince Kazmierczak, who accounted for 13 of Malone's next 17 points.

The Chargers (12-5 overall, 8-5 GLIAC), who entered the game tied atop the GLIAC South Division standings, would play their way back into the game, drawing as close as 36-32. However, a long, tightly-contested three-pointer from Elliott to close the half sent Malone to the locker room with a 39-32 lead.

Just like the first half, the Pioneers looked to Bates to provide the offense on the half's opening possessions. The senior delivered, scoring four points in the half's opening minute to push the lead to 11. Malone's defense would keep the Chargers' offense at bay the rest of the way, limiting them to just 33.3% shooting in the second half. Hillsdale was unable to trim the lead under seven points at any time during the half.

A key factor to the ballgame was Malone's ability to hold their own on the glass, drawing even in the rebounding margin, 34-34. The much larger Chargers, who have three players 6'10” and above on their roster, were held to only 10 second chance points. In addition, Malone was able to slow down Hillsdale's center, leading rebounder and second leading scorer Nick Washburn, keeping him to 12 points and two rebounds on the night.

Malone shot 26-51 (51%) from the floor and 9-20 (45%) from three-point range, while Hillsdale was held to 22-57 (38.6%) shooting and 6-27 (22.2%) from three.

Malone will try to push its win streak to five on Saturday when the squad travels to Findlay, Ohio to face the leaders of the GLIAC South Division, the University of Findlay Oilers (12-5 overall, 9-4 GLIAC). Tipoff is slated for 2:00 p.m.  Fans can listen to live audio of the game on the Malone Sports Network (www.malonepioneers.com/showcase).  Findlay will also provide live video and statistics.