The Malone University men's basketball team earned its first Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) win of the season Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought 73-66 road win at Ohio Dominican University. With the victory, Malone improved to 6-5 overall, 1-1 in the G-MAC, while ODU dropped to 4-7, 1-2 in G-MAC play.
 
Recap
A fast start for the Pioneers created the momentum in which they leaned on for the rest of the game. After ODU scored the first two points, Columbus native Daylan Haynie, playing in his hometown, sparked a 16-2 run with a driving layup on Malone's first possession. Eli Ramsey hit two three-pointers during the stretch and Sehill Mouliom made a pair of tough layups to give Malone a 16-4 lead just five minutes into the contest.
 
Shots continued to fall for Malone during the first half, but the Panthers went blow-for-blow, keeping the score within three possessions for the duration of the stanza. The Pioneers made 18 field goals in the half, including six from Ramsey, and shot 58.1% from the field, but led by just five points at intermission. Ohio Dominican countered with seven three-pointers, including one in the final minute to make it a 44-39 ball game.
 
The scoring slowed considerably in the second half and the pace became much more deliberate with points hard to come by. After an impressive offensive display in the first half, Malone showed off its defense in the second half while limiting ODU to just 36.4% shooting and two three-pointers.
 
The Panthers cut the margin to one with back-to-back buckets to start the frame, but Ramsey connected on a deep three-pointer to make it a 47-43 contest. Ramsey's trey gave him a career-high 17 points just 21 minutes into the game.
 
Malone went ahead by seven, 52-45, on a Marcus Ernst dunk at the 16-minute mark and the Pioneers then had answers for every ODU tally, perhaps the most important coming with under two minutes to play. Clinging to a 67-63 lead and with the shot clock winding down, junior Jaret Majestic drilled a tough baseline jumper to extend the lead to six. Majestic added four free throws in the final minute to seal the Pioneer victory.

Game Highlights

• For the game, Malone outshot the Panthers 47.5% (28-59) to 42.2% (27-64).
• Malone knocked down 8-of-18 (44.4%) three-point attempts while ODU was 9-of-26 (34.6%).
• The Pioneers outrebounded the hosts 39-33 and outscored the Panthers nine to three at the free throw line.
• Malone led for a total of 37 minutes, including all 20 in the second half.
• Ohio Dominican blocked six Pioneer shots
   

Pioneer Highlights

• Sophomore Eli Ramsey made each of his first seven shots on his way to a career-high 17 points. He added three assists.
• Jaret Majestic finished 14 points and four boards.
• Senior center Sehill Mouliom played well close to the basket, totaling 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
• In addition to 12 points, senior guard Daylan Haynie collected a team-high four assists.
• Marcus Ernst registered nine points, 11 rebounds, and a team-high three steals.
   

Panther Highlights

• Hasan Varence led four double-digit scorers with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
• Michael Scott added 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
   

Up Next
Malone remains on the road for a G-MAC contest at Tiffin on Monday evening (Dec. 16) at 7:30 pm