Box Score

Senior Cory Veldhuizen, playing in his 108th career game, picked the perfect night to set his career-high in scoring. The Malone University men's basketball team (14-10, 12-8 GLIAC) needed every single one of Veldhuizen's 34 points in earning an 81-80 win over Hillsdale College (16-8, 12-8 GLIAC) Thursday night. Roughly 30 minutes after the completion of the game, Malone's night got even better as they received news that Ferris State University knocked off Wayne State University 75-72. The Pioneers' win and Warriors' loss assured Malone a spot in the GLIAC Tournament in their first year eligible for the playoffs. After Malone's 62-59 loss at Walsh University on February 3rd, the Pioneers playoff aspirations looked bleak, but Malone has since rattled off five consecutive wins, their longest winning streak since the 2010-11 season, to secure a spot in the top eight in the conference.

Both teams put on an offensive clinic in the game. Veldhuizen's 23 first-half points cancelled out Hillsdale's 56.7% shooting effort in the half as Malone took a 41-39 lead into intermission.

Neither team could create any separation in the second half as the largest lead over the final 20 minutes was just five points. With the score tied at 78 and 2:39 to play, the Pioneers turned to senior Daniel Wise. His turnaround left-handed hook in the lane bounced off the rim and took a friendly kiss off the glass to give Malone a two-point lead. The Chargers responded with a textbook inbounds play on the next possession to even the score back up at 80 apiece. After both teams failed to convert on their ensuing offensive possessions, senior Isiah Elliott put Malone back in front by splitting one of two free-throws with 42 ticks on the clock.

Hillsdale turned the ball over with a chance to go ahead late in the ball game and sophomore Christian Graves was subsequently sent to the line after corralling the loose ball with six seconds remaining. Graves, an 84% foul shooter, gave the Chargers life by missing the front end of the 1-and-1 but Hillsdale's leading scorer Tim Dezelski, who scored 21 points in the game, left his game-winning one-handed runner short to seal the Pioneers' postseason fate.

Elliott and Veldhuizen, as they have done so many times in the last four years, teamed up to provide the Pioneers with a dynamic one-two scoring punch. Elliott's 19 points and seven assists were just as vital as Veldhuizen's 34 points. Sophomore guard Stephen O'Daniel III was instrumental off the bench, scoring nine points on three-of-three shooting from downtown.

Kyle Cooper led Hillsdale with 24 points, while Dezelski added nine boards to go along with his 21 points.

Neither team cooled down in the second half leading to some eye-popping final offensive statistics. The Pioneers went 31-of-55 from the field (56.4%) but were topped by the Chargers, who managed to shoot 33-of-55 (60.0%) for the game. The Pioneers drained 11-of-19 (57.9%) of their attempts from deep and 8-of-12 (66.7%) from the free-throw line. The Chargers shot 10-of-22 (45.5%) from three-point range and were a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Also of note was Malone's ability to take care of the basketball as they matched a season-low with six turnovers.

Although the Pioneers can breathe easier now that their playoff tickets have been punched, the stakes are still high this Saturday, Feb. 22, when they travel to the University of Findlay in hopes of avenging a loss to the Oilers earlier this season. Wins in their final two contests against Findlay and Walsh University would likely improve their playoff seeding and propel the Pioneers into the postseason riding a seven-game win streak. Tip off versus the Oilers is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Links of the live video and audio, which will be available for Saturday's game, are below:

Live Video

Live Audio