Box Score

The Malone University men's basketball team lost a home heartbreaker on Thursday night in Malone's Osborne Hall to Tiffin University by the score of 68-65. With the loss, the Pioneers dropped to 11-11 overall on the season and to 8-10 in the GLIAC while the Dragons improved to 9-15 overall and to 6-12 in GLIAC play.

In the first half, the visitors opened up a quick 6-0 lead but Malone responded to take its first lead at 8-7 with 15:47 left in the period.  The Pioneers held the lead until Tiffin moved back on top 19-18 with 7:33 remaining. A back and forth battle ensued for the remainder of the half with Malone closing out the half with an 8-0 run to secure a 33-28 halftime advantage.

Malone maintained the lead in the early going of the second half before the Dragons grabbed the lead at 49-47 with 14:32 left in the game.  Tiffin kept the edge until the Pioneers moved back on top at 64-62 on a pair of Zach Bates free throws.  With Malone holding a slight 65-64 advantage with 3:38 left, the Dragons then scored the final four points of the game to take the 68-65 win. With 21 seconds left, though, and trailing by just one point, Malone did have a chance to take the lead at that point but a three-point attempt by Kyle Lodermeier rattled in and out. A pair of free throws for Tiffin with 14 seconds left sealed the Dragon win.

Forward Cory Veldhuizen paced Malone in scoring with 15 points, including three three-point baskets, and also on the boards with eight rebounds. Bates followed with 12 points while adding five rebounds.  Guard Che Richardson and forward Vince Kazmierczak also hit twin figures with 11 points each. Richardson also added six rebounds.

Tiffin was led by Joe Graessle who tossed in 24 points followed by Cody Dennison who tallied 11 points. Michael Bouley paced the Dragons on the glass with nine rebounds.

The Dragons held a slight advantage in field goal percentage with a 40.3% (27-67) mark as compared to Malone's 36.1 % (22-61).  Although the Pioneers sank more three-pointers, Tiffin had the slightly better percentage at 31.3% (5-16) with Malone hitting eight of 27 for 29.6%.  At the free throw line, Malone converted 13 of 17 for 76.5% while the Dragons netted nine of 12 for 75%.  In addition, the Pioneers won the battle of the boards 44-37.

Malone will be back in action with another home contest on Saturday (Feb. 16th) when the squad hosts Ohio Dominican University (4-19, 1-17 GLIAC) in a 1:00 p.m. contest.  Live stats and live video will be available for this contest.  In addition, Saturday is Malone Athletics Hall of Fame day when the newest five inductees to the HOF will be recognized (at halftime of the men's game and just prior to the women's game).