CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team squares off with Hillsdale College for the second time this season. It is the third Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) game of the week for the Pioneers after they defeated Lake Erie and Tiffin in road games on Monday and Tuesday. Hillsdale has moved up to the 11th ranked team in NCAA Division II.
HARDWOOD SERIES HISTORY:
The Hillsdale Chargers won the first matchup of the season in Dawn Tibbets Potter Arena in Michigan 80-70. Malone held a 17-point second half lead, but the Chargers put together a phenomenal second half offensively that propelled them to victory. Malone is 4-10 all-time against Hillsdale, with the last win for the Pioneers coming in 2018.
GAME INFORMATION:
Malone Pioneers (7-5, 6-5 G-MAC) vs #11 Hillsdale Chargers (13-1, 13-1 G-MAC)
Osborne Hall – Canton, OH (8 pm)
Live Video/Stats:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/malone/
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MALONE PIONEERS TEAM NOTES:
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Roster |
Statistics
Malone comes into Thursday's game red hot, winning five straight games and six of their last seven. The downside to that, however, is that this will be the fifth game in the last eight days for the Pioneers. COVID-19 rescheduling has wreaked havoc on most men's basketball teams in the conference, and this was the week most affected for the Pioneers by rescheduled games.
In their most recent game against Tiffin, Malone scored 101 points, with 70 of those coming in the paint. It is the most points scored in the painted area in the NCAA DII era. The Pioneers also shot 56.3% (40-for-71) from the field overall in the road win.
Malone's strength is their ability to finish the possession.
Marcus Ernst and
Justin Miller both went for double-doubles in Tuesday's win with 27 points and 11 rebounds for Ernst and 17 points and 10 boards for Miller. The Pioneers have the highest rebounding margin in the G-MAC at an average of 6.6 more than opponents per game.
On the season,
Bo Myers has been incredible efficient. Myers has a field goal percentage of 50.7% (77-for-152) this year and in his last four games, has pulled down at least eight rebounds in every one. Myers dished out a season-high four assists in Tuesday's win as well.
Since beginning their five game winning streak, Malone has gotten to the free throw line at a high rate and have been much more consistent in knocking down their attempts. Over their last five, the Pioneers are shooting 77.4% (86-for-111). Malone averages 22.2 tries from the charity stripe in that span, compared to only 12.0 attempts in their first seven regular season games.
#11 HILLSDALE CHARGERS TEAM NOTES:
Schedule |
Roster |
Statistics
Hillsdale is riding a 10-game winning streak and avenged their only loss of the season on Saturday against #12 ranked Findlay 82-71.
The Chargers are led by the G-MAC's leading scorer and four time Conference Athlete of the Week Patrick Cartier. Cartier averages 19.9 points per game and has the league's highest field goal percentage at 64.3%. The matchup between he and Ernst inside will be fun to watch.
Hillsdale has the best team defense in the G-MAC and is the fourth-lowest scoring defense in the NCAA, holding opponents to 61.6 points per game. It looks to slow down the Malone offense, which is the second highest in the conference at 79.5 points per contest.
The rebounding defense of Hillsdale limits opponents to just 31.5 boards per game against one of the best rebounding teams in the conference in the Pioneers. Hillsdale pulls down the second-most defensive rebounds per game at 27.9.
The Chargers have used the same starting line-up in all 14 games this season. Cartier, Austen Yarian and Davis Larson make up the front court, while Tavon Brown and Connor Hill fill the back court. All five starters scored in double figures in the first matchup between the teams, led by Connor Hill with 18 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists.
