AKRON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team was defeated by NCAA Division I University of Akron in an exhibition game on Saturday by a score of 93-83. It was the first time Malone had seen the floor against another opponent this season after having multiple games postponed due to COVID-19.

Akron advances to 2-1 on the season with the home victory, and hold wins over Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) teams Cedarville and Malone. The game will not count for record or statistics for the Pioneers.
 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
In the first minute of action from James A. Rhodes Arena, Bo Myers went on an 8-0 run by himself with a mid-range jumper, a three-point field goal where he was fouled to convert the four-point play, and a lay-up. The lead ballooned to 17-3 after a lay-up by Levi Seiler, resulting in a timeout from Akron head coach John Groce just four minutes into the game.
 
Slowly but surely, the Zips creeped back into the game and eventually tied it up at 41 with 18 seconds left in the half with a lay-up from Loren Cristian Jackson. Coming back down the other way, Justin Miller converted a floater to close the first stanza and gave Malone a 43-41 halftime lead.
 
The Pioneers scored on their first three possessions in the second half as well. Bo Myers netted an and-one, Marcus Ernst, who was in foul trouble most of the game, hit a soaring lay-up and another three from Myers gave Malone confidence in the opening minutes of the half to pull an upset over a DI opponent. A jump shot from Bryce Butler, who beat the Zips with his speed most of the game, extended the Pioneer lead to six at 53-47, and it would not get any higher than that moving forward.
 
Akron finally broke through with 9:06 to play to tie the game once again and took their first lead of the contest with a three from Bryson Trimble Jr. with 6:45 left. The Zips went on a 13-4 run, highlighted by two Akron dunks, from the 5-minute mark until 2:30 to go and grabbed a commanding 83-72 advantage.
 
A late flurry of three-point makes by Justin Miller made the Zips earn the win at the free throw line and Akron escaped with a 93-83 victory. The Zips held a 10-point advantage at the charity stripe, going 19-for-23, while the Pioneers sank 9-of-14 shots. Loren Cristian Jackson scored 34 points as well as 10 assists, and Enrique Freeman had a massive double-double with 22 points and 21 rebounds.
 
PIONEER POINTS

• Bo Myers led Malone in scoring with 23 points and collected six rebounds. He was 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
• In only 23 minutes, Marcus Ernst was the second leading scorer for the Pioneers with 17 on an efficient 8-of-10 from the field. Ernst brought down five boards and dished out a pair of assists.
• Justin Miller led the team in rebounding with seven and hit two three's.
• The Pioneer defense held Akron to 4-of-22 from three-point land as a team.
• After being outrebounded early, Malone ended up tying the Zips in boards, with each team reigning in 42 total rebounds (16 offensive and 26 defensive).

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone is off for their holiday break and is currently scheduled to resume competition with their G-MAC opener at Trevecca Nazarene. Tip-off is at 5:15 EST.