CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team defeated the NCAA DII #12 University of Findlay Oilers by a score of 89-83. The Pioneers finish a stint of six games in 10 days with a 5-1 record and continue to climb up the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) standings.
 
Bryce Butler had a career-high 33 points in the win, including 24 in the second half. The redshirt senior was 10-for-15 from the field overall, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Butler also distributed a game-high seven assists.
 
Malone now holds a record of 8-6 overall and 7-5 in the G-MAC. Findlay loses their fourth game of the season and are 13-4 overall, 12-4 in conference play.
 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
Tommy Schmock was spraying in the early going, hitting three's from well beyond the line. Schmock was up to nine points and gave Findlay a 13-8 lead through five minutes. Bo Myers, Jaret Majestic, Bryce Butler and Levi Seiler all hit three-point field goals in the next five minutes to trim the deficit to 22-21 midway through the period.
 
The teams began trading baskets for the remainder of the period, with neither team taking more than a five point lead through the end of the half. Findlay closed the first with a steal and basket to take a 41-39 advantage into the locker room.
 
Tommy Schmock and Tre'Maine Gray led scoring in the first half with 11 apiece. Six Pioneers entered the scoring column in the first, including Bryce Butler with nine and Bo Myers and Levi Seiler with eight.
 
The second half was all Bryce Butler for the Pioneers. On his senior day, Butler decided to flex his muscles offensively and decide he would not be stopped on this day. He scored nine straight points coming out of the break, but Malone found themselves down eight at 56-48 with 15 minutes left.
 
Marcus Ernst, Justin Miller and Levi Seiler pounded the ball inside for Malone and each had a basket in the paint. Back-to-back three-point makes from Ethan Linder and Tommy Schmock gave the Oilers their largest lead of the game at 69-58 with 9:25 to go.
 
The Pioneers immediately went on a 9-0 run, seven of which were fueled by Bryce Butler. A three from Joey Edmonds on the other end did not deter the run, however, as Malone scored on their next four possessions, including a pair of fastbreak dunks from Marcus Ernst off of feeds from Butler. A trifecta from Justin Miller gave Malone a five-point lead at 77-72 with 4:31 to play.
 
Bryce Butler beat his man on a beautiful backdoor cut from Ernst to counter another long three from Schmock to make it 79-75. Masterlasco hit a jumper in the paint to narrow the Oiler deficit. Marcus Ernst converted an and-one with two minutes remaining to make the score 82-77.
 
Free throws from Bryce Butler and Jaret Majestic and a third second half dunk from Ernst sealed the 89-83 victory for the Pioneers. This was Malone's first win against the University of Findlay since February 1, 2018, in a game that looked eerily similar to this one. Findlay was ranked 11th in that game that was won in Osborne Hall as well.
 
Bryce Butler finished with 33 points in the game, a new career-high and seven assists. Tre'Maine Gray for Findlay accumulated a career-high 24 for the Oilers.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Malone shot 55.6% (30-for-54) in the game, including 63.0% (17-for-27) in the second half.
• The Pioneers outscored Findlay on the break 19-7.
• This is the third time this season that Bryce Butler converted 10 field goals. However, it is the first time he has scored above 30 in any game this season, or in his career. This is also Butler's second game this season with three made three-point shots.
• Justin Miller finished with a double-double for the third time in four games on Saturday. Miller scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Miller dished out three first half assists.
• Levi Seiler scored 10 points, the third time he reached double figures this season. Seiler attempted a season-high nine shots and he was effective inside and outside as he made one three-point field goal as well.

 
UP NEXT:
The Malone men's basketball team travels to Ohio Valley on Tuesday, February 16 for their next game. It is a men's and women's doubleheader beginning at 5:30 (women) and 7:30 (men) pm.