CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball returns to the Buckeye state for a road game at the University of Findlay. The Findlay Oilers are undefeated at 5-0 and are the sixth ranked team in NCAA Division II.
HARDWOOD SERIES HISTORY
Malone is 16-38 all-time against the University of Findlay. The teams met just once last season, with Findlay taking a 69-63 victory at home on January 30. The last win for Malone came on February 1, 2018, when the Pioneers upended the eleventh ranked Oilers 82-71.
GAME INFORMATION:
Malone Pioneers (0-2, 0-2 G-MAC) @ #6 Findlay Oilers (5-0, 4-0 G-MAC)
Niekamp Arena – Findlay, Ohio (7:30 pm)
Live Video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/findlay/
Live Stats:
https://athletics.findlay.edu/sports/mbkb/2020-21/boxscores/20210108_4r88.xml
MALONE PIONEERS NOTES:
Schedule |
Roster |
Statistics
Malone has been competitive in both regular season games this season, but were unable to come back from being down double digits in the second half. Although Findlay is one of the top teams in the nation, Pioneer fans should not be surprised if it is another close game because history says Malone has always played tough in this matchup. Since joining the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Malone and Findlay average a scoring margin of 6.75 in each of the four games and scoring differential in those games is +4 Findlay.
The Pioneers hold a 77-66 advantage through two games in total rebounds, and a massive 25-6 difference in offensive rebounding.
Bryce Butler led the team in scoring and assists in both games thus far. He had 18 points and five assists against Trevecca Nazarene and Kentucky Wesleyan. In his last game against Findlay, Butler netted a career-best 26 points in an 81-75 loss in 2018.
Last year's game was dominated by the team's All-Conference selections in
Jaret Majestic and
Marcus Ernst. Majestic nailed six three-point shots and tallied 19 points while Ernst finished with 18 points and gathered eight rebounds.
Against Kentucky Wesleyan,
Brian Read and
Simon Blair each netted their first field goals as Pioneers.
FINDLAY TEAM NOTES:
Schedule |
Roster |
Statistics
Opposite of the Pioneers, who are scheduled to play their first six games on the road, Findlay will be playing in their sixth straight home game to start the season before going on the road for game seven on Sunday. The Oilers are fresh off a win over the #23 ranked team in NCAA Division II, Hillsdale College. With the game tied at 65, Tommy Schmock hit a buzzer beater from half court to secure the victory.
Schmock joined Majestic as a First Team All-Conference selection in 2019-20 and was selected to the All-Conference Defensive Team. Schmock is a do-it-all type of guard who can score effectively, play solid defense and distribute the basketball.
A key to the Oiler offense that is averaging 82.8 points per game is the diversity of scoring threats. Findlay has four players currently averaging in double figures: Anthony Masterlasco (14.6 PPG), Nathan Bruns (13.0 PPG), Tommy Schmock (11.4 PPG) and Ethan Linder (11.4 PPG). They also have 14 players who have seen action in multiple games already.
Senior Tre'Maine Grey and junior Deven Stover join Masterlasco, Schmock and Bruns in the starting lineup for the Oilers. Each of them averages over five points per game.
