The Malone University men's basketball game will play their final four home contests of the season over the next two weeks. The Pioneers will kick off that home stand against #11 Findlay on Thursday and Hillsdale on Saturday. With an 8-6 record in conference, the Pioneers are currently the fourth seed in the G-MAC standings. They will be taking on the #1 and #2 seeds this week.

Staff Appreciation Night  

Thursday's contest against Findlay will be Malone Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night. Two special recognitions will be taking place during Malone's double-header. At halftime of the men's game vs. Findlay, Malone will recognize its 2017 All-Americans, All-Region honorees, Academic All-Americans and its National Champion, Duke Taylor.  Coach Jack Hazen will also be recognized for his recent induction into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame. At halftime of the women's game, Malone will recognize the following faculty members: Dr. Beth Clark-Thomas, Professor Frank Alexander, Dr. James Glasgow, Dr. Donna Bishop, Professor Ann Lawson and Dr. Karyn Collie.  These professors were nominated for the special recognition by the senior members of the men's basketball, women's basketball and swimming & diving teams.

 

Game Day

2/1 Malone vs. #11 Findlay - 6:00pm

2/3 Malone vs. Hillsdale - 1:00pm

 

For Live Video Broadcast for each contest, go to https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/

To listen live, go to http://www.espn990.com/listen.php

 

Series History

The Pioneers are 15-36 all-time against Findlay. The Pioneers came close to handing Findlay their first conference loss of the season in their first matchup this season, falling 89-85. The contest was the only time this season that Malone scored over 80 points and lost. The team won eight other games when they scored at least 80. The Pioneers are 3-6 all-time against Hillsdale. Hillsdale defeated Malone 77-51 in their first meeting. The Pioneers' 51 points was their lowest scoring total of the season.

Malone Team Notes

Record: 15-7 (8-6)  

• The Pioneer men are showing grit in crunch time as of late. The team has won three straight games, all by five points or less. The past two games in a row have both been overtime victories. In the Pioneers' 84-82 overtime victory against Cedarville, the team trailed by fifteen in the second half before clawing back to send it to overtime.

• The Pioneers are firing on all cylinders right now, winning six out of their past seven games. Their only loss in that stretch was a two-point thrilling game against their rival, Walsh.

• Ty Jordan and Nate Sheppard each scored over twenty points in the team's 86-85 overtime victory over Alderson Broaddus. Jordan hit the game-winning shot in overtime with 2.2 seconds remaining.

• Jaret Majestic's three-point production coming off the bench for the Pioneers was vital for both overtime victories. Majestic made four three-pointers against the Battlers and five more against Cedarville. He is currently shooting 48.8% from three on the season.

• Much of Malone's team success has come from beyond the arc as well. The team leads the conference with 228 made threes, which comes on 37.9% shooting.

• The Pioneers are out-rebounding their opponents by 3.2 rebounds per game, the second highest rebounding margin in the conference. The Pioneers have four players averaging more than five rebounds a game. Djuro Pantos leads the way with 6.8 rebounds per game.

 

Findlay Team Notes Schedule | Roster | Statistics

 

Record: 20-2 (14-0)

• The Oilers have won 16 straight games and have not lost a conference game this season. Their only losses were to Lake Superior (78-73) and Ferris State (69-68). The team did not lose in the entire months of December or January.

• The Oilers four-point victory over Malone was their second closest  margin of victory over G-MAC opponents. Cedarville took Findlay to overtime, losing 79-78.

• Findlay trails only Malone in three-pointers made (213), however one of Findlay's only weaknesses this season is their ability to defend the three-point line. Opponents are making 36.5% of their threes against Findlay.

• Findlay takes care of the ball well, while creating turnovers on the other end. The team leads the G-MAC in turnover margin, causing 16.0 turnovers a game while committing just 9.7. They lead the conference with 203 steals on the season as well.

• Taren Sullivan and Martyce Kimbrough are both in the top five in scoring in the conference for Findlay. Sullivan is scoring 18.0, while Kimbrough is scoring 17.7 points per game. Kimbrough trails only Malone's Ty Jordan in threes made this season (67).

• Tommy Schmock is second in the league with 1.8 steals per game.

• Austin Gardner nearly has a double-digit (9.3) assist to turnover ratio this season. Gardner has 56 assists and just 6 turnovers.

 

Hillsdale Team Notes Schedule | Roster | Statistics

Record: 17-4 (11-3)

• The Chargers have won four straight games and will play against Walsh on Thursday before traveling to Malone on Saturday.

• Hillsdale is holding opponents to their lowest scoring in the conference. Teams are scoring just 63.5 points per game against the Chargers. Hillsdale scores just 73.0 points per game, but is third in scoring margin because of their work on the defensive end.

• Hillsdale is leading the conference in free-throw percentage, making 75.1% of their attempts. Nate Neveau is leading the conference in free-throw percentage, making 85.9%.

• Hillsdale trails on Findlay in turnover margin. The Chargers turn it over 11.4 times per game, while forcing opponents into 14.0 turnovers per game.

• Stedman Lowry is Hillsdale's leading scorer. Lowry is averaging 13.9 points per game. Lowry trails only Malone's Ty Jordan in three-point percentage. Lowry is making 39.2% of his threes.

• Nick Czarnowski is second in the league in field-goal percentage, shooting 56.3% from the field.