Following a thrilling battle with Kentucky Wesleyan last Saturday, the Malone University men's basketball team is back in action in a single game this week on Thursday, January 9 at Lake Erie College. Last week, Malone picked up a 75-53 win over Trevecca Nazarene and suffered an overtime defeat against Kentucky Wesleyan, 81-73.
 
Follow Along:
Malone @ Lake Erie
Thursday, January 9 at 5:30 pm
Live Video/Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lakeerie/
 
Series History:
In 25 previous matchups between the Pioneers and the Lake Erie Storm, Malone holds a record of 17-8. Last season, the teams split a pair of games, with each team winning on the other's home floor. In the first contest, the Pioneers held off a comeback effort from Lake Erie 67-64. The teams met again in the regular season finale where the Storm picked up a 79-71 win in Osborne Hall.
 
Malone Team Notes: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Record: 9-6 (3-2 G-MAC)
 
Malone has not ventured into an opponent's gym since December 16 when the Pioneers shot the lights out at Tiffin in a 99-94 triumph. Malone enters Thursday's game winning three consecutive road contests, including two Great Midwest Athletic Conference matchups.
 
Rebounding the basketball has been a huge key to success for the Pioneers this season. As a team, the Pioneers are second in the G-MAC in rebounding margin at 4.4 more rebounds per game than opponents. With 567 total rebounds, Malone ranks 23rd in all of NCAA Division II.
 
Individually, Marcus Ernst leads the team averaging 9.7 rebounds per game. In the last game versus Kentucky Wesleyan, Ernst set a new career high with 17 rebounds and accumulated his seventh double-double of the season. He leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game with 2.7, with teammate Sehill Mouliom not far behind at 2.5 offensive rebounds per contest. Ernst also leads the team in blocks and steals, using his length to his advantage.
 
Jaret Majestic is averaging 15.1 points per game in his junior season after netting 23 points against Trevecca Nazarene and 16 versus Kentucky Wesleyan. Majestic has displayed an improved playmaking ability, while also shooting the ball at a high level. From three, Majestic is hitting 35.2% and shoots 94.1% from the free throw line.
 
Daylan Haynie is third in the conference with over 34 minutes per game and played a career-high 42 minutes in Saturday's overtime loss. Haynie also had eight assists in the game and has found his groove offensively. He has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.
 
Lake Erie Team Notes: Schedule | Roster | Statistics
Record: 9-7 (3-3 G-MAC)
 
The Storm enters Thursday's game on a two game skid after falling to G-MAC foes Hillsdale and Findlay to start 2020. Lake Erie averages 76.7 points per game, very similar to the Pioneers, who sit at 76.5 points per contest. As a team, the Strom collect 39.3 rebounds per game compared to Malone's 37.8 and lead the G-MAC in extra offensive opportunities by gathering 12.1 O-boards per game.
 
At 20.3 points per game this season, Gabe Kynard leads the conference in scoring. Kynard became Lake Erie's all-time scoring leader earlier this season, passing 2003 graduate Brandon Henderson. He has scored in double figures in all 16 games this season and has played in 40+ minutes five times. The senior guard shoots 43.5% from the field (32.1% from long range) and 85.6% from the free throw line, including a streak of 24 consecutive made free throws heading into Thursday's game.
 
Junior guard Harrison Riggs and senior forward Kaleb Vaughn join Kynard as Storm players who have started in all 16 games this season. Riggs leads the team with 3.8 assists per game. At the forward position, Vaughn is able to step out and make a few shots from deep and attempts over three per game. He had four blocked shots in a win at Walsh earlier this season.
 
Kevin Peterson, Jacob Plantz and Erron James each play over 20 minutes per game for Lake Erie. Peterson takes the most three-point shots per game at 5.9 and shoots 38.3% from beyond the arc. Plantz is a freshman scoring 7.8 points per game. James scored eight points in 21 minutes in the most recent game against Hillsdale.
 
Mitch Loomis, from Malvern, Ohio, played with Pioneer junior Jaret Majestic in high school. Loomis averages 5.1 rebounds off the bench for the Storm.