CANTON -- The Malone University men's basketball team is set to begin a stretch of four home games in eight days to close out the 2021-22 regular season. 

On Saturday, the Pioneers will host the Ashland University Eagles in a crucial Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) matchup this late in the season.

Malone is looking to even up the season series with Ashland, and also trying to win their eighteenth consecutive game overall inside Osborne Hall.

The current home winning streak of seventeen consecutive games is tied for the second-longest mark in all of NCAA Division II. 

GAME INFORMATION
The Matchup: Ashland University Eagles (16-8, 12-5 G-MAC) at Malone University Pioneers (17-6, 12-4 G-MAC)
Where: Canton, Ohio | Osborne Hall
When: Saturday, February 19 | 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: Malone University Ticket Office 
Live Video Stream: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 42nd meeting all-time between these two schools. Ashland has dominated the all-time series 33-8. 

In the earlier meeting this season, the Eagles' defensive effort limited Malone to their lowest scoring output of the season, and Ashland was able to score the 61-58 win. That loss snapped a ten game winning streak for the Pioneers.

Malone's last win in the series came back in February of 2014, an 84-75 win inside Osborne Hall. 


WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MALONE UNIVERSITY
Roster | Schedule | Stats

• Malone bounced back to pick up a win at Tiffin last night. The Pioneers led by as many as fourteen points inside of the final three minutes, but were forced to hold off a furious comeback attempt by the upset minded Dragons to hang on for the 90-86 win.
• A glance at the current G-MAC Standings show Malone in sole possession of second-place. The Pioneers sit .5 games ahead of both Hillsdale and Ashland, and trail Walsh by just .5 games for first-place.  
• Bryce Butler poured in a game-high 32 points in the win over Tiffin, coming just one point shy of tying his career high. He leads Malone, and ranks third overall in the conference, with a 17.8 points per game average. 
• Marcus Ernst came just one rebound shy of securing his sixth double-double of the season at Tiffin. Ernst is averaging 12.9 points per game, and 9.6 rebounds so far this season.
• Saturday's matchup will feature the G-MAC's top-scoring offense in Malone (81.5 ppg) against the league's top-scoring defense in Ashland (63.8 ppg). 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY
Roster | Schedule | Stats

• Ashland is coming off of a 70-68 loss at home to Walsh on Thursday night. Prior to that, the Eagles had won three consecutive G-MAC contests.
• Aaron Thompson leads Ashland's offensive attack with 14.0 points per game, but Brandon Haraway has been the team's catalyst as of late. Haraway has scored 122 points in the last five games, averaging 24.4 points per game in that stretch.
• The Eagles are the newest member of the G-MAC, joining the league prior to the 2021-22 academic year. In basketball season, since the calendar changed to 2022, Ashland is 10-3 overall. 
• A big reason for the Eagles top-ranked defense is the fact that they force opponents into an average of 13.3 turnovers per game. 
• Ashland, who was picked to finish second in the conference in the preseason coaches poll, is under the direction of head coach John Ellenwood. Ellenwood is in his thirteenth season leading the the Eagles. Last year Ashland finished 15-9 overall, won the GLIAC championship, and advanced to the. NCAA Division II Midwest Region Semifinal. 

UP NEXT
Malone will host three games next week to close out the 2021-22 regular season slate. First up, the University of Findlay comes to town on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.