PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team secured their fourth straight victory on Monday night with an 81-68 win at Lake Erie. Justin Miller put together a phenomenal performance shooting the basketball and pulled down a new career-high in rebounds with 13.
 
The win brings the Pioneers to a 6-5 overall record and they continue to climb the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) standings, now at 5-5 in league play. Lake Erie falls to 1-10 overall and in conference play.
 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
After falling behind 4-2 in the opening minutes, Malone proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to take an 11-4 lead. Simon Blair converted an and-one following a Lake Erie free throw make to continue to increase the advantage.
 
Justin Miller and Bo Myers scored eight straight Pioneer points that gave Malone a 20-11 lead halfway through the first period. The Storm answered with four points of their own, but was outdone by Malone with another 7-0 scoring streak led by Levi Seiler, Bryce Butler and a three-ball from Miller to make it 29-15 with seven minutes to play in the half.
 
After going up 40-27 with 2:20 to go, Lake Erie closed the half by scoring 10 unanswered and made it 40-37 at the half. Bo Myers led the Pioneers in scoring in the first with nine points. Butler and Miller chipped in with seven points apiece and seven boards from Miller.
 
Momentum swung in the direction of both teams early in the second. Just as in their most recent game against Walsh, Malone began pounding the ball inside after leaving the halftime talk from head coach Casey Kaufman. The first 23 points in the second half were scored either in the paint or via the free throw line for the Pioneers.
 
After holding the lead for the majority of the game, Lake Erie stormed out of a five point deficit with back-to-back three's and an and-one to take a 59-57 lead with 10:18 to go.
 
Justin Miller collected two offensive rebounds and scored on a tip-in lay-up to tie the game up at 59 and a steal from Brian Read led to a fastbreak lay-up from Levi Seiler to retake the lead. Those two baskets began a 12-0 Pioneer scoring spurt, highlighted by a Miller made three where he was fouled as well.
 
Miller connected on another three from way downtown to extend the lead to 74-60 with three minutes to play and free throw shooting late allowed Malone to cruise to an 81-68 win. Justin Miller led all scorers with 18 and Leon Hughes had 16 for the Storm. Both team's leading scorers came off the bench in the game.
 
PIONEER POINTS:

• Despite shooting 6-of-24 (25.0%) from three, the Pioneers were able to make up points from the free throw line, going 21-of-23 (91.3%).
• Malone dominated the painted area, scoring 42 total points and 20-of-26 points that came off of field goals in the second half were inside.
• The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 35-28, 11 of which were on the offensive end of the floor.
• In his third game securing double-digit rebounds, Justin Miller notched his first double-double of the season with a game-high 18 points and 13 boards.
• Just as in the Walsh game, Bo Myers and Bryce Butler tied in scoring with 16 each.

 
UP NEXT:
Malone goes back-to-back with another game tomorrow at Tiffin University. It's an early tip-off at 5:30 pm from Tiffin, Ohio.