HILLSDALE, Michigan – A second half scoring attack from the Hillsdale Chargers propelled them to an 80-70 win over the Malone Pioneers in men's basketball on Sunday afternoon. Malone had as much as a 17-point lead in the second half of the game, but Hillsdale caught fire in the closing stages. A 10-0 run with under four minutes to go gave the Chargers a commanding 76-66 advantage and sent the Pioneers to their fourth straight loss to start the 2020-21 season.
 
Malone continues to fight to get in the win column, but are 0-4 overall and in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The NCAA DII #25 team in the nation Hillsdale survives and moves to 6-1 on the year, all in conference play.
 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
Malone went on an 11-4 run to start the game with four players, Levi Seiler, Bryce Butler and Marcus Ernst, each finding the scoring column before the first media timeout. Malone took advantage of Charger turnovers in the middle of the period, contributing to six fast break points and a 10-2 points off of turnovers edge in the first.
 
A lay-up from Bo Myers gave the Pioneers their biggest lead of the half at 21-8 with 10:58 to play. Both teams began pounding the ball inside as an offensive strategy as the half came to a close. Hillsdale had the size advantage on paper, but Malone forwards of Ernst, Myers, Justin Miller and Levi Seiler kept the Pioneers in front as the half came to a close.
 
Malone led 38-29 at the intermission, and held the Chargers empty from behind the three-point line (0-for-9).
 
Before the first media timeout in the second half, Malone extended their lead to 14 at 49-35 with 15:04 remaining. Hillsdale took the starters out of the game to try to light a fire under them.
 
Coming out of the break, lay-ups from Simon Blair, Bo Myers and Marcus Ernst led to the largest lead of the game for either team at +17. However, once the starters were back in for the Chargers, they went on a scoring tear.
 
An 18-4 run by Hillsdale put them right back into the game with seven minutes to go. Justin Miller sank a lay-up from Ernst with a beautiful feed inside to make it 61-56, but three consecutive lay-ups the other way allowed the Chargers to take their first lead since 4-2 early in the first.
 
Bryce Butler retorted with an and-one on the other end of the floor, and a few moments later, converted a lay-up inside to tie the game at 66 with 3:49 left. From there, Tavon Brown and Davis Larson went on a 10-0 run themselves for Hillsdale in an 80-70 victory.
 
Although Butler was the game's leading scorer, Hillsdale had all five starters in double figures, led by guard Connor Hill with 18.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• All seven players that checked in scored for Malone, with Butler (24), Myers (14) and Ernst (14) in double digits.
• 52 of the Pioneers' 70 points (74.3%) came via paint points.
• Malone shot 31-of-67 (46.3%) overall, but struggled from three, going just 3-of-19 (15.8%).
• Marcus Ernst collected his second double-double of the week with 14 points and 10 boards today.
• To go along with their high scoring games, Butler and Ernst each distributed four assists to tie for the team lead.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone continues their road spell next week, first when the Pioneers square off with the Ohio Dominican Panthers on Thursday, January 14. Tip-off for the men is slated for 7:30 pm with the women playing beforehand at 5:30 pm.