The Malone University men's basketball team will continue Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action this week when it treks to Hillsdale College on Thursday, December 6th and to the NCAA DII #17 University of Findlay on Saturday, December 8th. The Pioneers, who enter the week at 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the G-MAC, will look to start a new winning streak after seeing their five-gamer snapped last Saturday against defending G-MAC Champion Ohio Dominican.
 
GameDay
12/6 Malone at Hillsdale – 7:30 pm*
12/8 Malone at Findlay – 3:00 pm*
Live video will be provided via the Great Midwest Digital Network at portal.stretchinternet.com/malone
Live stats (Hillsdale): http://www.hillsdalechargers.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/boxscores/20181206_1q51.xml 
Live stats (vs. Findlay): http://athletics.findlay.edu/sports/mbkb/2018-19/boxscores/20181208_3jct.xml

*The Malone men will follow the women's game on both days as part of the G-MAC doubleheaders.
 
Series History
In 10 all-time meetings with Hillsdale, Malone is 4-6, including a 1-1 mark last season. Following a 77-51 December loss at Hillsdale, the Pioneers avenged the 26-point defeat with a 77-68 victory over the Chargers in Canton in their most recent meeting in February.
 
Against Findlay, Malone is 16-36 in 52 all-time meetings, including a 1-1 split last season. Like at Hillsdale, Malone dropped a road contest at Findlay (89-85) in December, but came back and upset the then NCAA DII #11 Oilers 82-71 in Canton in February.
 
Team Comparison

Category	Malone	Hillsdale	Findlay
Record (G-MAC)	5-3 (1-1)	5-3 (2-0)	6-1 (1-1)
Points per game	78.5	68.1	84.3
Points allowed	68.6	65.6	75.7
Scoring margin	+9.9	+2.5	+8.6
FG%	46.5%	43.5%	49.1%
3-point%	36.0%	34.5%	38.7%
Free throw%	64.6%	80.7%	67.9%
FG% defense	41.8%	43.3%	46.9%
Rebounds	36.2	31.6	33.9
Rebound margin	-0.5	-3.5	-0.1
Turnover margin	+2.5	+4.1	+3.1

Malone Notes

• The Pioneers are coming back from an 81-70 loss to Ohio Dominican on Saturday in which they shot just 39.7% while allowing a season-worst 48.2% to the Panthers.
• Prior to that loss, Malone shot 65.4% - the highest in a game since 2002 -  in a Tuesday win over Clarion. On Thursday, Malone outscored Ohio Valley 41-27 in the second half to claim its G-MAC opener 73-61.
• In all three contests last week, senior guard Nate Sheppard scored at least 20 points. On the season, he is averaging a G-MAC best 22.8 points per game, nearly five more than the next closest player in the conference. Sheppard also leads the conference in three-pointers made and is second on the team in rebounds (5.8 rpg).
• Sophomore forward Marcus Ernst leads the team in rebounds (7.3 rpg) and steals (12). He is scoring 7.5 points per game and has reached double digits in each of the last three contests.
• Junior guard Bryce Butler has taken well to his expanded role as a scorer for the Pioneers, averaging 13.6 points per game. Butler, who reached double digits just one time last season, has done so in each of the last six games, including a career-high 24 points against Ohio Dominican.
• Forward Ben Evans, who scored a then career-high 13 points at Hillsdale last winter, has also seen his point totals increase during his senior season as he's averaged 11.6 points per game and has reached double digits five times in eight games.
• Junior point guard Daylan Haynie has been the benefactor for a Malone offense which ranks third in the G-MAC in field goal percentage. Haynie has handed out a league-leading 47 assists (5.9 apg) while scoring 9.3 points per game and tying for the team lead with 12 steals.
• The Pioneers come into the week with the third-best defense in the G-MAC in terms of both scoring (68.6 ppg) and opponent field goal percentage (41.8%). Malone is also second in the G-MAC in scoring margin at +9.9 ppg.
• Malone is 1-1 in true road games this season.
   

Hillsdale Notes - Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Chargers, who were voted second in the G-MAC preseason coaches poll, enter the week with a 5-3 mark and a 2-0 record in conference. Hillsdale is coming off road wins at Cedarville and Tiffin last week.
• Junior guard Dylan Lowry leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game. Senior center Nick Czarnowski, who is scoring 7.7 ppg, scored 40 points in the two games vs. Malone, including 27 in the win at Hillsdale.
• As a team, Hillsdale is second in the G-MAC in scoring defense (65.6 ppg) and number one in turnover margin (+4.12 tpg). The Chargers are third in Division II in turnovers per game (9.1) and eighth in the DII in free throw shooting (80.7%).
• After going 13-1 at home last season, the Chargers are just 1-3 in four home games this fall.
   

Findlay Notes - Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Oilers, who were voted first in the G-MAC preseason coaches poll, come into the week ranked 17th in the latest Division II top-25 poll. After starting the season with six straight wins, the Oilers suffered their first loss of the season last Saturday in a G-MAC road game at Cedarville (82-69).
• Findlay is led by 6'7" senior forward Alex White, who ranks among the top-3 in the G-MAC in scoring (17.6 ppg), rebounding (9.6 rpg), and blocked shots (2.0 bpg). Aaron Overhiser, another 6'7" forward, is second on the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game.
• As a team, Findlay is second in the G-MAC in shooting (49.1%) and turnover margin (+3.14 tpg) and third in scoring offense (84.3 ppg), scoring margin (+8.6 ppg), and three-point shooting (38.7%).
• The Oilers have one of the best homecourt advantages in college basketball. Over the past 55 home games dating back to 2015, Findlay is 51-4 in Croy Gymnasium.