HICKORY, N.C. -- The Malone University men's basketball team wrapped up a road trip on Saturday with a non-conference game at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 

The Pioneers got a career-high 40 points from senior Bo Myers, however the Bears held off a huge Malone comeback attempt late. Ultimately LRU escaped with a 74-73 win. 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: Lenoir-Rhyne University 74 - Malone University 73
• Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (3-0, 0-0 SAC) | Malone University (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC)
• Location: Hickory, North Carolina | Shuford Memorial Arena

THE GAME
Both sides traded baskets in the early going, with neither team able to create a true advantage. 

Through the first eleven minutes of the game the lead changed hands six times, and the deficit on both sides was never more than one possession.

At the 8:54 mark of the first half Lenoir-Rhyne opened up a four-point lead on a slam dunk. That play was part of an 11-5 run by the home team that gave LRU a 29-19 lead with 5:35 remaining in the half. 

The Pioneers were eventually able to cut the deficit down to three points late in the half when Elijah Hinton converted on a three-point play. However, Lenoir-Rhyne closed out the half with three-point baskets on back-to-back possessions to carry a 41-32 lead to the break. 

The Bears came out of the locker room strong, and pushed their lead out to 50-36 less than five minutes into second-half. 

Bo Myers jumpstarted Malone's comeback with an old-fashioned three-point play. A couple of possessions later it was consecutive three-pointers from Myers that trimmed LRU's lead down to just 54-50. 

Lenoir-Rhyne continued to score on their end of the floor, but Malone always had an answer of their own, usually in the form of Myers. 

One of his jumpshots cut the LRU lead down to just one possession at 62-59 with 5:47 still left to play in the game. 

LRU matched with a layup on the other end, but Myers was able to connect on yet another triple on the very next possession to make it 64-62. 

Eventually the Bears stretched their lead back out to eight points late in the game. 

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, they were just never able to fully complete the final comeback. Terrance Broughton's three-pointer in the final seconds made it 74-73, but Lenoir-Rhyne held on and escaped with the one point win.

DETAILS

• Bo Myers finished with a career-high 40 points. He was 15-26 from the field and 7-14 from beyond the three-point line. He also pulled down 12 rebounds to cap off his second double-double of the season.
• Elijah Hinton was the only other Pioneer to score double-digits. He finished with 12 points. 
• Malone outrebounded Lenoir-Rhyne 42-26. The Pioneers finished with 18 offensive rebounds that led to an 18-2 advantage in second-chance points.

WHAT'S NEXT
Malone's next scheduled game is not until Saturday, December 3. The Pioneers will open up G-MAC play at home against the University of Findlay. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit www.malonepioneers.com.