The Malone University men's basketball team will host the 50th Mayors' Cup in the rivalry's history on Thursday, Feb. 27th, when the squad squares off with Walsh University at 8:00 p.m. at Osborne Hall.

The Pioneers came up just short in North Canton earlier this year in losing a 62-59 battle to the host Cavaliers. Both teams have already secured a spot in the GLIAC tournament. Malone, with a 14-11 record and 12-9 record in the GLIAC, sits in eighth place in the GLIAC. Walsh sits comfortably in third place in the GLIAC with a 19-5 record and 15-5 record in conference play.

The Pioneers' senior tandem of Isiah Elliott and Cory Veldhuizen will try to continue their individual success against their cross-town foes. Elliott enters Thursday's matchup averaging 14.5 points per game against Walsh, while Veldhuizen averages 14.1 points per game.

Walsh leads the all-time series 68 to 40, winning 13 of the last 14 contests, including the last four against the Pioneers. They also hold a 30 to 19 advantage in Mayors' Cup bouts with Malone's last victory in a Mayors' Cup game dating back to the 2006-2007 season.

The women's contest, which represents the 18th annual Mayor's Cup, will tip off two hours earlier at 6:00 pm. Walsh holds a slim nine to eight advantage in Mayor's Cup games and a 37 to 34 advantage all-time versus the Pioneers but Malone claimed the Cup last year with a 65-49 road victory over Walsh.

Malone urges the community to come out and support the long-standing rivalry. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for non-Malone students and senior citizens. Children under the age of twelve are admitted for free.

In honor of the 50th annual men's Mayors' Cup game, all former Malone basketball players, both men and women, will also be admitted for free. In addition, all players from Malone and Walsh who previously participated in the rivalry will be recognized during a break in the game's action.

Big Times Sports Network will air the replay of both the men's and women's games locally. Time Warner Channel 989 and Massillon Cable Channel 128 in Stark and Wayne will carry the games as will Time Warner Channel 4 in Tuscarawas, Carroll, and Holmes Counties. The men's game airs on February 27 at 11:00 pm and March 1st at 4:00 pm. The women's game will be broadcasted on February 28th at 10:00 pm and March 1st at 2:00 pm.

Did You Know?
- Did you know that in the first-ever Mayors' Cup game, which was held at Malone University in the 1964-65 season, Walsh won the contest by the score of 82-69?
- Did you know that Malone won the very next Mayors' Cup, which was played at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse in the 1965-66 season by the score of 81-66?
- Did you know the first to retire a Mayors' Cup was Malone during the 1970-71 season in which they edged Walsh by the score of 73-71 (retiring a Cup requires three consecutive Mayors' Cup victories)?
- Did you know that Walsh holds the record for most consecutive Mayors' Cups win with seven (from 1999-00 to 2005-06)?