CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team won their seventh straight game on Saturday to wrap up regular season play with a 77-63 victory over Ohio Dominican. The Pioneers went on a 10-2 run to start the game and led wire-to-wire.
 
Malone will place fourth in the conference standings at 14-6 overall and 13-6 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) competition. The Ohio Dominican Panthers drop to 5-13 on the season and 5-12 in league action.
 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
Bryce Butler and Bo Myers went on a 10-2 run by themselves for Malone in the opening four minutes of the game after Butler had six and Myers four, all in the painted area. The Pioneers extended the gap all the way to 12 at 19-7 after jump shots from Butler and Justin Miller inside and five more points from Myers.
 
Myers, Miller and Butler continued their offensive onslaught in the middle stages of the first period to keep the advantage around double figures. An 11-2 run by Malone sparked by four consecutive points from Levi Seiler allowed Malone to hold an 18-point advantage at the break, 39-21.
 
Full court pressure by Malone forced eight Panther turnovers in the first half, including three 10-second in the backcourt calls. The Pioneers also limited Ohio Dominican from the field to just 8-of-31 (25.8%) shooting from the field and 3-of-13 (23.1%) from long range in the first. Butler had 13 points to lead the Pioneers in the frame and Myers chipped in 12.
 
Malone converted on their first two opportunities in the second with a Jaret Majestic three and Bo Myers transition basket off a steal to take their largest lead of the game at 44-23 one minute into the half.
 
A 9-0 run from Ohio Dominican allowed them to cut the deficit down to 10 at 59-49 halfway through the half, but Malone responded with a 9-3 run, fueled by Marcus Ernst, who was held scoreless in the first 30 minutes.
 
Unlimited energy hustle plays from Justin Miller in the closing minutes kept the double-digit advantage for the home team and led the Pioneers to a 77-63 win.
 
Bo Myers (19 pts) and Bryce Butler (18 pts) led Malone in scoring for the game and Zach Szul was the offensive ignition for the Panthers with 17.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• The Pioneers made more than half of their shots in a game for the ninth time in the 2020-21 season by going 32-for-63 (50.8%). They also held their opponents to 24 made field goals in 61 attempts (39.3%), the second-lowest field goal percentage for a Malone opponent.
• Taking advantage of turnovers was key for the Pioneers, as Malone outscored Ohio Dominican 18-8 off a turnover and 16-0 in fast break opportunities.
• Malone dominated inside, scoring 52 points and holding the Panthers to just 22.
• The rebounding battle was won by the Pioneers 40-29.
• Justin Miller was all over the floor. The redshirt junior netted 15 points, pulled down nine boards and dished out six assists, a team high in rebounds and assists for the second consecutive game.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone has clinched the number four seed in the conference tournament and will host the number six seed on Tuesday. It is yet to be determined who the Pioneers will play in Osborne Hall, as Walsh and Lake Erie play the final G-MAC regular season game of the season on Sunday afternoon.