Archived Video Broadcast

The Malone University men's basketball team concluded its 2015-16 season on Thursday night at home with an 80-68 defeat to rival Walsh University in the 52nd annual Mayors' Cup.

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 22-10 lead midway through the first half before the Pioneers stormed back, using a 12-3 run later in the frame to cut the deficit 27-25 with a little over three minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

Walsh took a slim 32-30 edge to the locker room at intermission.  After the Cavs' Trey Fletcher opened the second-half scoring with a driving lay-up, back-to-back buckets by Malone center Brian Stone knotted the score at 34-34.

A pair of three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor by Pioneer forward Mitchell Spotleson would then give the Pioneers their first lead of the second half at 40-39.

Malone stretched its lead to five on three separate occasions over the next three minutes, the final time on another Spotleson three-pointer with a little less than 11 minutes to play.

However, Walsh then took command, using a 21-3 scoring run to turn its five-point deficit into a 13-point lead at 68-55 with just under four minutes to play.

The Pioneers pulled within 74-66 in the final minute on a three-pointer by senior guard Stephen O'Daniel III, but the Cavaliers sank each of their final six free throws to complete the season sweep of Malone and notch their ninth straight victory in the Mayors' Cup series.

Seniors Neil Gingerich, Jason Miller, Stephen O'Daniel III, Jay Parker and Brian Stone along with senior student assistant coach Brian Adkins were each recognized prior to their final collegiate contest.

Malone Individual Highlights
-Stone, who entered the game with the highest field-goal percentage among NCAA men's basketball players, converted on 11 of 13 shot attempts Thursday night en route to a team-high 23 points…he established a new Malone single-season record by making 71.7% of his field-goal attempts on the year, surpassing Mark Hogan's previous record of 66.3%
-O'Daniel III notched 12 points and eight assists
-Spotleseon scored all 12 of his points on second-half three-pointers…he also grabbed six boards
-Parker posted nine points and nine assists
-Gingerich grabbed three rebounds
-Miller posted three points, one assist and one rebound
 
Walsh Individual Highlights
-Guard Jesse Hardin Jr. hit five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 25 points…he also grabbed five boards and handed out four assists
-Fletcher tallied 19 points and nine boards
-Guard Zac Carter registered 15 points and six asssits
-Guard Chall Montgomery posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds
 
Game Notes
-Walsh shot 66.7% from the field in the second half, making six of its 11 three-pointers in the final stanza
-The Cavs sank 16 of 18 free throws while Malone went to the line just three times, making one
-The Pioneers outscored the Cavs 28-20 in the paint
-Malone racked up 22 assists on 27 made baskets