Box Score

The Malone University men's basketball team (9-10, 7-8 GLIAC) appeared to be on the verge of claiming its first victory over Walsh University since 2011, but the Cavaliers (15-3, 11-3 GLIAC) put together an 11-4 run over the final three minutes and 30 seconds to squeak out a 62-59 win Monday night.

In front of a full house at Walsh's Alumni Arena, the Pioneers managed to stay step-for-step with the Cavs in the first half, despite only shooting 7-of-29 from the field (24.1%) and 1-of-11 from three-point range (9.1%). The Cavaliers shared similar shooting woes and the teams went into halftime with Walsh leading 26-24.

Both teams were noticeably crisper in the second half, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.

Sophomore Christian Graves gave the Pioneers a 50-49 lead with 5:42 to go when he knocked down a triple from the top of the arc. After Walsh's Chall Montgomery netted a pair of free-throws, senior Isiah Elliott put Malone back on top with a jump shot. After a stop, Graves would give Malone its biggest lead of the half, 55-51, with another three-pointer from straight on. Montgomery answered with a critical drive, converting a layup as he was fouled. He completed the three-point play and Malone found itself in a dog fight.

Trailing by one, Walsh's Hrvoje Vicic hit the biggest shot of the game, a corner three with the shot clock winding down, to give the Cavs a two-point lead with 2:11 to go.

Malone found sophomore Neil Gingerich inside on the next possession and his power move resulted in him heading to the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game. Gingerich managed to knock down one of two, cutting the deficit to 57-56. Jesse Hardin and Elliott traded two free-throws each on the ensuing possessions, leaving the score 59-58 in Walsh's favor with 43 seconds to go. The Malone defense dug in and forced a stop on the next possession but Montgomery, who made huge plays all night long for Walsh, secured the offensive rebound and scored on the put back.

Walsh's head coach, Jeff Young, made the decision to foul Elliott on the in-bounds of the next possession to ensure that the senior would not have the opportunity to tie the game with a three. Elliott knocked down the first free throw but intentionally clanked the second in hopes of a teammate knifing in to grab an offensive board. Unfortunately, Walsh's Jeff Copeland snagged one of his 15 rebounds after the miss with two seconds left in the ballgame. After being fouled, Copeland made the first free-throw attempt but offered the Pioneers one final gasp when he missed the second; however senior Cory Veldhuizen's heave from his own side of half court fell wide, handing Malone a tough defeat against its biggest rival.

Elliott, behind 15 second half points, finished with a game-high 19 points and six assists, while Graves ended with 13 points and eight rebounds. Veldhuizen was a basket shy of a double-double, finishing with eight points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Stephen O'Daniel III provided a nice spark off the bench, finishing with seven points.

Copeland finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavs, while Montgomery added 15 points.

Neither team eclipsed the 40% mark on field goals. Walsh finished 37% from the field while Malone shot a season-low 35%. Both teams hit 6-of-21 triples (29%), while Walsh hit 14-of-23 free-throws (61%) to Malone's 11-of-14 (79%). Walsh out-rebounded Malone 46-37.

Malone will try to draw its conference record to .500 when it welcomes Lake Erie College to Osborne Hall on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 8:00 pm.  Live streaming video will be provided during the contest at www.malonepioneers.com/showcase.  Live stats will also be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/malone/