CANTON -- On Saturday, the Malone University men's basketball team will make the short trip up Market Avenue to take on rival Walsh University.

The Pioneers are looking for their sixth win in a row this season, their fourth consecutive road win, and their fifth straight win overall against the Cavaliers. 

Saturday's contest will be the 58th Annual Mayors' Cup. 

GAME INFORMATION
The Matchup: Malone University Pioneers (15-4, 10-2 G-MAC) at Walsh University Cavaliers (13-5, 9-3 G-MAC)
Where: North Canton, Ohio | Alumni Arena
When: Saturday, February 5 | 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: Walsh University Ticket Office
Live Video Stream: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 127th meeting all-time between these two schools. Although Walsh holds an 80-46 advantage in the all-time series, the Pioneers are riding a four-game winning streak against the Cavaliers.

Malone scored a 69-53 win in the earlier meeting this season. The Pioneers held a sixteen-point lead at the halftime break, and then matched the output of Walsh in the second-half to secure the 69-53 win.

MU is going for back-to-back regular-season sweeps of Walsh. Prior to last season, that feat had not been accomplished since 1994.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MALONE UNIVERSITY
Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Pioneers' success this season is starting to catch the eyes of people all across the country. In this week's edition of the NABC NCAA Division II Top-25 Poll, Malone sits just outside the top-25 as one of the "other teams receiving votes." MU is the only team from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference listed in the poll. 
• Last week's wins at Kentucky Wesleyan and at Trevecca Nazarene allowed the Pioneers to remain in sole possession of first-place atop the league standings. Malone holds a half-game lead over second-place Hillsdale College.  
• Bo Myers served as the offensive catalyst for Malone in both games last week. The junior scored 20 points, and pulled down five rebounds at KWC. He followed that up with a team-high sixteen points and nine rebounds on Saturday at TNU. Myers is the fourth-leading scorer in the G-MAC, averaging 17.1 points per game. 
• Although he was held somewhat in check last week, especially at TNU on Saturday, Bryce Butler continues to lead Malone in scoring this season. His 17.3 points per game slot in at third overall in the conference. 
• Malone's offense, which continues to lead the league scoring 81.2 points per game, is also aided by double-digit scorers: Justin Miller (13.7 ppg), Jaret Majestic (13.7 ppg), and Marcus Ernst (10.9 ppg). 
• Marcus Ernst is just shy of averaging a double-double. He is second in the G-MAC with 9.7 rebounds per game. 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WALSH UNIVERSITY
Roster | Schedule | Stats

• The Cavaliers enter off of a 63-60 win at Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday. Prior to that, Walsh had a three-game winning streak snapped by Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday. WU's only other G-MAC losses this season have been to Cedarville (January 13) and Malone (December 14).
• Sophomore forward Garrison Keeslar leads the Cavaliers in scoring at 15.0 points per game. That mark is sixth-best in the G-MAC. He did not play in the earlier matchup against the Pioneers this year. 
• Darryl Straughter (13.3 ppg), Caleb Canter (11.0 ppg), and Tim Smith Jr. (10.5 ppg) are the other double-digit scorers for the Cavaliers. Smith Jr. was the only player to reach the double-digit threshold in Malone's earlier win. 
• The Cavaliers are fairly efficient on offense, shooting 44.3 % from the field on the season. Malone's defense had their number in the last meeting however. The Cavaliers connected on just 21 of their 73 attempts from the floor for a 28.8 field goal percentage.
• Walsh, who was picked to finish sixth in the conference in the preseason coaches poll, is under the direction of head coach Jeff Young who is in his eighteenth season leading the Cavaliers. 

UP NEXT
The Pioneers will finally be back at home next week. Malone is set to host Hillsdale College on Thursday, February 10. Tip-off from Osborne Hall is set for 7:30 p.m.