CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team continues to strive towards postseason play on Tuesday when the Pioneers travel to Ohio Valley University to face the Fighting Scots. Currently, according to the point rating system, the Malone men's basketball team would travel to Walsh in the 4/5 matchup in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament.
 
GAME INFORMATION:
Malone Pioneers (8-6, 7-6 G-MAC) @ Ohio Valley Fighting Scots (3-10, 3-10 G-MAC)
Snyder Activity Center – Vienna, WV (7:30 pm)
Live Stats/Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ohiovalley/
 
HARDWOOD SERIES HISTORY:
Malone is 7-1 all-time versus Ohio Valley and won the game earlier this season against the Fighting Scots 100-67 at Osborne Hall. The only series win for Ohio Valley was in 2019 when the Pioneers lost 62-56 on the road.
 
MALONE PIONEERS TEAM NOTES:
Schedule | Roster | Statistics
 
The Pioneers picked up their biggest win of the season in their most recent game on Saturday, a home upset of the NCAA DII #12 team in the nation, the University of Findlay Oilers, 89-83. After dropping their first four regular season games, Malone has won eight of their last 12 and were 5-1 in a six games in 10 day run.
 
As a team, Malone averaged 85.0 points per game last week, including a game against one of the top scoring defenses in the nation in the Hillsdale Chargers. After their 89-83 win over Findlay, the Pioneers take the top spot in team offense in the conference at 81.0 points per game on the year.
 
Bryce Butler set new career highs in scoring in two games last week, first with a 27-point performance in a win at Tiffin, and a 33-point outburst versus Findlay. He jumps up to third on the G-MAC's individual scoring list at 18.4 points per game this season and takes over the team lead from Bo Myers. Butler also distributed seven assists against the Oilers, tied for his second-highest assist total in a game in his career.
 
Down low, Marcus Ernst and Justin Miller made their presence known with Ernst scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 from the field and Miller with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Ernst had two fastbreak dunks and Miller knocked down a pair of huge three-point shots during a 20-3 run in the second half that pulled momentum Malone's way.
 
Levi Seiler reached double digits against Findlay, the third time he has scored 10 or more this season. Seiler played 26 minutes in Saturday's win, the second-most time that he has spent on the floor in 2020-21.
 
OHIO VALLEY FIGHTING SCOTS TEAM NOTES:
Schedule | Roster | Statistics
 
The 3-10 Ohio Valley Fighting Scots split the season series with Ohio Dominican last week with a home win last Monday 93-72 and a Saturday loss 92-82 on the road. In their last win, the Fighting Scots scored 51 first half points and shot 56% from the field in the game.
 
Ohio Valley is in the upper echelon on G-MAC teams in offensive statistics, however their defense is what is limiting them to just three wins. The Fighting Scots give up a league-high 89.5 points per game.
 
One of the reasons Ohio Valley has such high offensive numbers are taking advantage of opportunities at the free throw line. The Fighting Scots are the top free throw shooting team in the conference at 80.1% and Christian Alley leads the G-MAC as an individual at 91.7%. Ohio Valley hit all 21 free throws against Malone earlier this season.
 
In the first meeting between the teams, Keon Claiborne, Cameron Shaw and Parker Black all reached double figures with 21, 16 and 13 points. Claiborne averages 16.8 PPG, Shaw 16.4 PPG and Black 13.8 PPG. These three players have combined to take 59% of the total shots for the Fighting Scots this season. Black is the team's leading rebounder (6.2 RPG) and assist man (4.9 APG).
 
Vukasin Garic is the team's fifth starter at the center position, but Jordan Millspaugh saw a lot of time in the Ohio Valley rotation off the bench in the earlier clash between the teams.