The Malone University men's basketball team will make the short trip to North Canton on Saturday afternoon to take on Walsh University.  Saturday's game will start at 3:00 p.m. and will mark the first of two meetings between the archrivals this year – a prelude to the 55th annual Mayors' Cup which will be held at Osborne Hall on February 23.
 
GameDay
1/12/19 Malone at Walsh – 3:00 pm
Video/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/
Radio: ESPN 990 AM and www.espn990.com/listen.php
 
Series History
The Cavaliers own a 77-40 lead in the all-time series and have won the last 13 meetings with the Pioneers.  Malone's last victory against Walsh came on the road in November of 2011.  Of the last 13 contests in the series, three have been decided by two points or less, including last January at Osborne Hall when the Cavaliers held off a late Pioneer comeback, securing a 70-68 win.
 
Malone Notes (8-7 overall, 3-5 G-MAC) - Schedule | Roster | Stats
-The Pioneers have won three out of their last five contests and enter this Saturday's game following a convincing 90-76 home win over Tiffin University last Saturday
-Malone has shot 50% or better in each of its last three games and entered this week ranked fifth in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in overall field-goal percentage (45.8%) and three-point percentage (36.9%)
-The Pioneers drained 13 triples against the Dragons on Saturday, marking the seventh time this year that they have hit 10 or more three-pointers.  On the season, Malone ranks fifth in the conference with an average of 9.2 made treys per outing
-Malone is also fifth in the G-MAC in scoring defense (71.8 points per game) and tied for fourth in assist-to-turnover margin at 1.3
-Guard Nate Sheppard leads the G-MAC in scoring at 20.3 points per outing.  He knocked down four three-pointers and scored a team-high 18 points in the win over Tiffin.  On top of leading the G-MAC in scoring, the redshirt senior also ranks second in the G-MAC with an average of 3.1 three-pointers made per game and is third in the league in minutes played with an average of 33.2 per outing
-Guard Bryce Butler has taken full advantage of his opportunity to join the starting line-up this season.  The junior ranks second on the team in both scoring (14.8 points per game) and assists (3.1 per contest).  He also ranks fourth in the conference in field goal percentage, having made over 53% of his shots from the floor and 51.1% (24 of 47) of his attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
-Forward Ben Evans had a big game against Tiffin on Saturday, registering the first double-double of his career with 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.  He also blocked four Tiffin shots and handed out four assists.  Like Butler, Evans has flourished in his first year as a starter, averaging 11.9 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field and 40% (33 of 82) from long range
-Guard Daylan Haynie is averaging 8.6 points per outing has been effective in orchestrating the Pioneer offense throughout the year.  Haynie ranks fourth in the G-MAC in assists (5.2 per game) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0)
-Forward Marcus Ernst ranks eighth in the conference in both rebounding (7.2 per game) and blocked shots (1.2 per contest)
-Guard Jaret Majestic has made at least one three-pointer in 13 of Malone's 15 games and is averaging 6.9 points off the bench this season
-Forward Sehill Mouliom has also provided a lift off the bench this year.  He posted a season-high 11 points in the win at Tiffin and is averaging 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game
 
Walsh Notes (10-5 overall, 5-2 G-MAC) - Schedule | Roster | Stats
-The Cavaliers have won eight of their last 10, including both games last week against Tiffin and Cedarville
-Walsh leads the G-MAC in field-goal percentage defense, limiting opponents to 40.8%.  The Cavs are also fourth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 68.5 points per contest
-Walsh is second in the league in both rebounding margin (+5.1 per game) and blocked shots (4.3 per game)
-Offensively, Walsh often attacks from the perimeter.  The Cavs have attempted the sixth-most three-point shots in NCAA Division II so far this year (445) and lead the conference with 163 made three-pointers
-Walsh also leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) but ranks last in the league in free throw shooting at 62.3%
-Freshman forward JT Shumate was named the G-MAC Athlete of the Week last week after averaging 25 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists in the wins over the Dragons and Yellow Jackets.  On the season, Shumate paces the Cavs with an average of 18.7 points per game.  He is shooting 50% from the field on the year and over 40% from beyond the arc
-Sophomore guards Darryl Straughter and Reece Bogan have also been dangerous from three-point land this year, both averaging 2.9 made treys per contest.  Straughter is making 42.2% of his three-pointers and 91% of his foul shots this year and ranks ninth in the G-MAC in scoring at 16.6 points per game.  Bogan has knocked down 35% of his treys and is averaging 9.7 points
-Junior forward Sterling Christy is averaging 13.1 points, ranks second in the G-MAC in rebounding at 9.7 boards per game and is third in the conference in blocked shots with 1.7 per contest.  Christy also paces Walsh in assists (3.7 per game).