The Malone University men's basketball team fell to Walsh University on Wednesday night by a score of 74-59. The Pioneers faced a 17-point second half deficit, but were able to climb all the way back to tie the game with 9:30 remaining. Walsh was able to scrap their way back into a double-digit lead and put the game away with a flurry of huge scoring plays in the clutch time.
 
Malone ends the regular season with a 16-12 overall record, 10-8 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play. Walsh is now 21-6, 12-5 in the G-MAC with one game left to play before the postseason begins.
 
Recap:
After a Sehill Mouliom post hook gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead, Walsh sprung out to a 13-2 advantage going into the under-16 media timeout. Back-to-back threes from Jaret Majestic and a big block by Mouliom leading to a Daylan Haynie corner three trimmed it down to just five, but explosive offense from Caleb Canter and Mark Mokros kept the Pioneers at bey.
 
Mokros and Haynie went back and forth offensively midway through the first half. Mokros converted 4-of-4 free throws, a wing three and a cutting lay-up and had not missed a shot before the under-8 media timeout, netting 13 points. Haynie hit two more three point attempts and was 3-for-3 from long range in the first half with nine points, but the score was still 27-19 Walsh.
 
The Cavaliers took a 37-26 lead into the locker room behind a defense that held the Pioneers to just 34.5% shooting in the first frame (10-for-29). Walsh, in turn, shot 44.4% in half number one (12-of-27).
 
A 6-0 run for the Cavaliers put Malone in what looked to be an inescapable hole at 43-26 with 17:25 left to play, but stringing together stops and scores was key in another amazing comeback effort. Just nine days ago, the Pioneers were in the same boat and both times grinded their way back into the contest.
 
Sehill Mouliom sparked a 20-4 run with shots towards the rim. The big man scored on a lay-up, offensive rebound putback, an and-one on a fake handoff, a monster two-handed slam and a hook shot in the paint. Caleb Canter matched Mouliom with a dunk of his own to make the score 49-45 Walsh, but Marcus Ernst scored with two crafty finishes to tie the game at 49 with 9:30 to go.
 
The Cavaliers retorted with silencing three-point shots from Mokros and Christian Montague that gave Walsh a 56-49 advantage. A post spin finish from Sehill Mouliom would be the only points Malone would get in a 16-2 run. Darryl Straughter buried a jumper and was fouled, Canter cut to the rim for a dunk, a Straughter three and a JT Shumate putback gave Walsh momentum and a 65-51 lead with 4:31 to play.
 
Free throw shooting put the game away for the Cavaliers as they went on to win the Mayor's Cup 74-59.
 
Game Highlights:
- The teams took exactly 59 shots apiece. Walsh made 25 shots (42.4%) and Malone 24 makes (40.7%).
- The Cavaliers outrebounded the Pioneers 41-30.
- Malone accumulated 32 points in the paint, compared the Walsh's 28 paint points.
- From the charity stripe, the Cavaliers shot a perfect 15-for-15 in Wednesday's game, the Pioneers went a combined 3-for-7.
 
Malone Individual Highlights:
- Senior Sehill Mouliom scored 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
- Wearing number 13, Daylan Haynie played all 40 minutes for the Pioneers, had 13 points and hit a career-best four shots from distance.
- Marcus Ernst was the only other Pioneer player in double-digits with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Walsh Individual Highlights:
- Mark Mokros scored a game-high 20 points.
- Caleb Canter netted 14 total points and brought down 15 boards.
- Christian Montague and Darryl Straughter finished with 16 points each.
 
Up Next:
Malone awaits their fate to see where they will travel for their quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, March 3. The final G-MAC games of the regular season take place this weekend.