The Malone University men's basketball team earned its biggest regular season win of the NCAA Division II era Thursday night with an impressive 82-71 wire-to-wire upset victory over the University of Findlay, who came into the game ranked #11 in the nation. The Oilers, previously winners of 16 in a row, suffered their first-ever Great Midwest Athletic Conference loss as they fell to 20-3 on the year and 14-1 in the G-MAC. Malone, meanwhile, improved to 16-7 on the year and 9-6 in the conference.
 
The victory marked Malone's first over a ranked team since downing #20 Michigan Tech in December of 2014. The upset of #11 Findlay also marked the highest-ranked team that Malone has beaten since upsetting a then #7 Findlay team in 2011.The win was the fourth straight for the Pioneers and their seventh in the last eight games. The 16 wins this season are the most since winning 18 in 2010-11.
 
Recap
The Pioneers raced out to a 9-0 lead on threes from Ty Jordan, Djuro Pantos, and Mitchell Spotleson in the first two minutes of the game. The lead then swelled to 18-5 on three more treys from the senior trio just three and a half minutes later.
 
Playing without injured leading scorer Taren Sullivan, the Oilers' offense struggled early on, but put together back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to seven points (20-13) at the 10-minute mark. Malone didn't waver, though, and continued to knock down shot after shot. By halftime the Pioneers had opened up a 42-31 advantage on 16-of-29 (55.2%) shooting and a 9-for-16 (56.3%) showcase from beyond the arc.
 
Malone grabbed its largest lead of the game on back-to-back layups from Daylan Haynie and Pantos early in the second half before the Oilers picked up the defensive intensity and began to chip away. Six straight points in the next 90 seconds made it a nine-point game. A three-pointer at the 10:43 mark trimmed the lead to 55-50 and another three paired with a free throw brought Findlay to within three points at 57-54 with 9:12 remaining.
 
The unshaken Pioneers countered with a three-ball by Jaret Majestic and then a baseline jumper by the freshman lefty on the following possession. Three more times the Oilers, whose two prior losses this season were by a combined six points, cut the lead to within four, but Malone had an answer on every occasion.
 
Leading 68-64 with just 3:28 to go, Jordan took a pass from Haynie and buried his fifth three of the game to put Malone ahead 71-64. The senior sniper stared down his shot sensing the Pioneers were about the pull off something special.
 
The Oilers never seriously threatened again after missing a jumper on their next possession. Malone went to work at the charity stripe over the next few minutes, hitting 9-of-10 free throws to help secure the upset. After forcing a final missed Findlay layup with seven seconds left, the Pioneers were serenaded by the applause of a standing crowd that had just witnessed an outstanding team performance.
 
Game Highlights
-Malone drained 14-of-16 (87.5%) free throw attempts during the game, including 13-of-14 in the final five minutes.
-The Pioneers finished a remarkable 28-of-50 (56.0%) from the field and 12-of-23 (52.2%) from three-point range.
-Findlay made 42.2% (27-of-64) from the field, 37.9% (11-of-29) from three, and 75.0% (6-of-8) at the free throw line.
-The Pioneers outrebounded the Oilers 34-27 and outscored them 28-22 in the paint.
-With the win, Malone climbed into fourth place in the G-MAC standings. The Oilers, who already clinched a berth in the G-MAC Tournament, remained in a comfortable first-place lead.
-The win for Malone avenged an 89-85 loss at Findlay in December.
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-In an outstanding all-around effort, Ty Jordan finished with 26 points (7-12 FG, 5-9 3 PT, 7-8 FT), five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Jordan scored a career-high 41 points in the loss at Findlay.
-Djuro Pantos was impressive in his own right, adding 14 points (5-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal.
-Jaret Majestic totaled 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting (2-of-3 from three).
-Daylan Haynie tallied eight points and eight assists.
-Nate Sheppard collected eight points and five rebounds.
-Mitchell Spotleson chipped in with seven points, six boards, and two assists.
 
Findlay Individual Highlights
-Martyce Kimbrough led the Oilers with 21 points, four steals, and three assists.
-Trey Smith added 14 points off the bench.
-Alex White recorded 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Up Next
Malone will look to continue its hot streak this Saturday, February 3rd when Hillsdale comes to Osborne Hall for a 1:00 pm encounter.