HILLSDALE, Mich. -- The Malone University men's basketball team was on the road Saturday afternoon, and faced a top-20 opponent in the Hillsdale College Chargers. 

Hillsdale (10-3, 5-2 G-MAC) jumped out to a 42-27 lead at halftime, and the Pioneers (10-4, 5-2 G-MAC) were never able to fully recover.

Despite Malone outscoring the Chargers in the second-half Hillsdale was able to hang on for the 81-70 win. 

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Chargers entered play reeling from a huge loss earlier this week to Walsh, and came out of the gate in the first half looking to bounce back. 

It took just over seven minutes in the first half for Hillsdale to build up their first double-digit lead of the game. 

The Chargers led by as many as 19 points in the first-half, but Malone was able to fight back.

Five straight points from Bryce Butler cut Hillsdale's advantage down to 33-19 with six minutes still to play in the half. 

The teams traded baskets the rest of the way, and the Chargers carried a 42-27 lead to the halftime locker room. 

Three straight Pioneer points to open the second-half cut the deficit down to just twelve points.

Unfortunately Hillsdale quickly countered, and had the lead back out to 52-35 with 13:47 left to play in the game. 

A Jaret Majestic three-pointer jump-started a Malone run that got the Pioneers back into the game. Marcus Ernst answered a Hillsdale basket with a layup on the other end, and Justin Miller's basket made it 54-42 with 11:56 to play. 

After the Chargers stopped the run with a bucket of their own, Butler connected on a three-pointer to bring Malone to within eleven points. 

A few possessions later the Pioneers got the deficit down to single digits on a basket by Ernst. Malone got to within six points when Butler converted a pair of free throws, but unfortunately could not complete the comeback. 

With 2:30 left in the game Hillsdale's lead was back out to double-digits, and the Chargers ultimately pulled away for the 81-70 win.


PIONEER POINTS

• Bryce Butler poured in a season-high 29 points to lead all scorers in the game. 
• Marcus Ernst chipped in 13 points, and pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds to finish with his first double-double of the year.
• Bo Myers was the only other player in double-digits for Malone. He scored 13 points, and now just needs ten more points to reach the 1,000 career point mark.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Malone will be away from home next week as well. The Pioneers travel to Ohio Dominican University on Thursday, January 13, and to Cedarville University on Saturday, January 15.