PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Malone University men's basketball team opened up the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) portion of their 2021-22 schedule on Saturday afternoon with a road trip to take on the Lake Erie College Storm.

The Pioneers (5-2, 1-0 G-MAC) needed an overtime period, but held off the Storm (4-3, 0-2 G-MAC) in the end to pick up the 82-80 win. 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The game was back-and-forth for the better part of the first half. Neither team was able to build up much of a lead until a late run by the Pioneers. 

With 8:35 left to play in the opening half, and the Storm holding a 21-19 lead, Malone scored the next 14 points unanswered and looked to be taking control of the contest. 

Levi Seiler started off the run by splitting a pair of free throws. After a defensive stop by the Pioneers, Seiler connected on a three-pointer to put Malone on top 23-21. 

At the 4:30 mark of the half Seiler made a steal, and then found Bo Myers in transition for a three-pointer to give Malone their first double-digit lead of the game at 31-21.

When Justin Miller's layup put the Pioneers ahead 35-21 with just 3:26 left to play in the half, all of the momentum was squarely on the visitor's side. 

Unfortunately the Storm outscored Malone 9-2 over those final three minutes to cut the Pioneers' lead down to 37-30 at the halftime break. 

Less than three minutes into the second half Lake Erie had the deficit down to just one possession at 39-36, and just over a minute later actually to within one point at 39-38.

The Pioneers never surrendered the lead however, as they were able to find an answer for nearly every LEC bucket. 

At one point the Storm tied things up at 44-44, but Myers drilled a three pointer on Malone's next trip down the floor. 

The teams traded scores back-and-forth for a handful of possessions, but just past the midway point of the half it looked like the Pioneers might be ready to pull away for good. 

Three consecutive points from Marcus Ernst put Malone up 54-50, and then three more points from Bryce Butler stretched the lead out to 57-50 with just over seven minutes to play. 

The Pioneers continued to maintain their advantage, and a Jaret Majestic free throw put MU up 66-57 with just 2:22 left to play in the game. 

Unfortunately the Storm did not go quietly. Lake Erie outscored Malone 11-2 down the stretch to tie the game up at 68-68 and force overtime. 

The Pioneers caught fire from three-point range early in the extra period. 

Majestic opened up the overtime scoring with a triple. Miller and Myers followed with three-pointers of their own to put Malone up 77-68 with 3:13 left in overtime. 

Yet again however, Lake Erie had another comeback effort left. 

The Storm had the deficit down to 77-75 with 1:46 left, and Malone's struggles from the free throw line down the stretch allowed LEC to stay in it. 

Butler split a free throw opportunity which put the Pioneers up 82-80 with four seconds left. The Storm grabbed the rebound off of the missed opportunity, and actually had a three-point look at the buzzer that would have won the game. The shot came up short however, and Malone escaped with the 82-80 win.


PIONEER POINTS

• Bo Myers finished with a game-high 19 points to lead Malone's offense. The junior was 5-9 from beyond the three-point line. He also had three rebounds and two assists. 
• Justin Miller added 17 points on 7-12 shooting from the field.
• Bryce Butler (16), Marcus Ernst (14), and Levi Seiler (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for Malone. Seiler came up just one rebound shy of a double-double. He led the Pioneers with nine boards.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Pioneers will play their first home G-MAC game next week. Malone hosts Trevecca Nazarene University on Thursday, December 9. Tip-off from Osborne Hall is set for 7:30 p.m.