The Malone University men's basketball team fell behind early and was unable to recover in a 75-61 loss to Walsh University at Osborne Hall on Saturday in the 55th Annual Mayors' Cup.

The Cavaliers, who entered the contest on an eight-game winning streak, jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the opening minutes of the contest.  Malone would score the next six points with a three-point play by forward Marcus Ernst and a three-point basket by Nate Sheppard, trimming the deficit down to four at 15-11.

From there, Walsh outscored the Pioneers 9-2 over the next five minutes to build a 24-13 lead.  The Cavaliers went to the locker room on top by a 34-23 margin. 

Ernst cut the Walsh advantage to 37-29 on a fast-break dunk three minutes into the second half.  However, the eight-point deficit was as close as the hosts would get the rest of the way as the Cavaliers went on to record the double-digit victory, avenging Malone's 69-62 win over Walsh at Alumni Arena back on January 12.

The Cavaliers improved to 20-7 and 15-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference following Saturday's outcome while the Pioneers slipped to 15-12 and 9-10 in conference play. 
 
Game Highlights
-The Pioneers struggled to get their offense on track in the first half against a Cavaliers' defense that came into Saturday's contest leading the G-MAC in opponents' field-goal percentage and ranking second in opponents' points per game.  Malone made just nine of 31 attempts (29%) over the first 20 minutes while Walsh knocked down 12 of its 19 (63.2%) first-half field goals
-Malone sank 44.8% of its second-half attempts, finishing the game at 36.7% overall.  The Pioneers went seven of 21 (33.3%) from long range on the afternoon
-Walsh struggled from three-point range, hitting two of 14 from distance, but fared much better inside the arc, making 29 of 49 (59.2%) shots overall
-The Cavs outscored Malone 50-28 in the paint and held a commanding 45-23 edge in total rebounds
-The Pioneers committed only nine turnovers and handed out 14 assists on 22 made baskets
-With Saturday's victory, Walsh extended its Mayors' Cup winning streak to 12 straight
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Bryce Butler hit four three-pointers and netted a game-high 25 points to go with five rebounds and two assists
-Sheppard posted 15 points
-Ernst finished with nine points
-Daylan Haynie tallied nine assists and four rebounds
 
Walsh Individual Highlights
-Darryl Straughter paced the Cavs with 23 points
-Sterling Christy notched 19 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and two steals
-JT Shumate registered 11 points and five rebounds before fouling out
 
Up Next/Postseason Picture
The Pioneers will conclude their regular-season schedule next Saturday at home with a 3:00 p.m. contest against Lake Erie College.  Despite the loss to Walsh, Malone's postseason hopes are very much alive as the Pioneers remain seventh in the G-MAC standings.  A Malone victory against Lake Erie College next Saturday would clinch a G-MAC Tournament berth for the Pioneers.  Malone could also secure one of the eight G-MAC Tournament spots if Kentucky Wesleyan College loses one of its final two regular-season games next week.