CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team swept the Walsh University Cavaliers in the 2020-21 season and won the 57th Annual Mayors' Cup Game 71-69. Malone wins their first Mayors' Cup since 2007 and pick up their fifth consecutive win and 12th win in 14 games.
 
Malone moves to 12-6 on the year and 11-6 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) action. Walsh stumbles to 8-8 in the 2020-21 season and 8-8 in conference play.




 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
The Pioneers jumped out to a 7-0 run in the first two minutes, powered by a lay-up from Marcus Ernst, and five points from Levi Seiler via a three-point field goal and lay-up inside off a feed from Bryce Butler. Seiler countered a three from Christian Montague with one of his own to make it 10-3 Pioneers.
 
Christian Simmons, Luke Howes and Garrison Keeslar came off the bench for the Cavaliers to get them back in the game. Simmons was a spark offensively with 10 first half points. Howes gave Walsh their first lead of the game at 17-16 halfway through the first, but it was immediately answered by a 9-0 Malone run.
 
Jaret Majestic got on the board with a three, followed by a Bo Myers lay-up and two baskets from Simon Blair to make it 25-17 at the eight-minute mark.
 
A dunk inside from Caleb Canter off of a slip screen lit a fuse in the Cavalier offense, and they countered with a 12-1 run to reclaim the advantage 30-28 with two minutes to go in the first and took a 35-32 lead into the halftime break.
 
"After the first half, we were only down three, so coming out of halftime we felt good. We came out with more energy and started hitting shots that just were not falling in the first," said sophomore guard Bo Myers on the halftime adjustments.
 
The second half is where the rubber really met the road. Just as in the first, Levi Seiler cashed out on a pair of triples in the first two minutes, bookending a lay-up by Butler to record three Pioneer scores in as many possessions to claim a 40-37 lead.
 
Back-and-forth the teams went as Walsh returned fire with an 11-2 scoring spurt to lead 48-42 with 13 minutes to play. Darryl Straughter began to orchestrate the offense with efficiency in the middle stages of the half, scoring or assisting on three consecutive field goals to make it 56-50 over the next two minutes.
 
The latter half of the period was hard-nosed defensively, with most shots heavily contested by the defense. Shots by Justin Miller and Bryce Butler fell in an attempt to trim the deficit, but the biggest momentum play of the half came from Bo Myers, who hit a three and was fouled to tie the game up at 58 with eight minutes left.
 
Both teams scored five unanswered points each to make it 63-63 at the final media timeout with four minutes remaining. Jaret Majestic sank a three and Marcus Ernst converted a lay-up to extend the Pioneer lead to four at 68-64 with under three to play.
 
Christian Montague banged home a huge three-point shot to narrow the gap to 68-67, but stops and free throws late in the game sealed the victory for the home team. Up 71-69 with 10 seconds left, the Pioneers recorded a stop without allowing more than a desperation look that missed everything.
 
Marcus Ernst was one of the biggest catalysts on the defensive side of the basketball, getting tips and forcing Walsh to adjust their shots all night. Ernst commented on the win, "We pride ourselves on toughness plays, so it feels so good to win a close game with some grit. There is no better feeling than keeping this winning streak going and beating Walsh in the process!"
 
Head Coach Casey Kaufman had this to say about the team's performance, "I'm so happy for this team and everything we have accomplished so far this year. There is so much out there for them and they continue to take every step to get the most out of this season. People around here often gauge your season on whether you beat Walsh. We're excited any time we can beat a good team and Walsh is a very good team."
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Malone shot 45% (27-for-60) from the field and buried nine attempts from three. The Pioneers limited Walsh to just 41% (27-for-66).
• Along with his defensive effort, Marcus Ernst secured his fourth straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. He recorded all four blocked shots for the Pioneers on the evening.
• Levi Seiler tied for the team-lead in scoring with 14 points. It is the second consecutive game where he was the team leader and his first time scoring in double figures in back-to-back games in his career.
• Bo Myers netted 14 points as well, 12 of which coming in the second half. Myers connected on three of the team's nine shots from long range.
• Bryce Butler was the fourth member of the team in double figures with 12 points and dished out a team-high six assists.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone remains at home for their penultimate game of the regular season when the Lake Erie Storm makes the trip to Canton, Ohio. It is a single men's game with tip-off at 8 pm.