CANTON -- The Malone University men's basketball team is in the home stretch of the 2022-23 regular season, and squarely in the middle of a push to secure a 2023 Great Midwest Championship Tournament bid. 

The Pioneers played their next to last home game of the season Thursday night when they welcomed the Hillsdale College Chargers to Osborne Hall.

The Chargers entered play as the No. 13 team in the most recent NABC NCAA Division II Top-25 Poll. 

Malone was within striking distance at halftime, but Hillsdale ran away with the game in the second half en route to a 90-64 win.

THE ESSENTIALS

• Final Score: #13 Hillsdale College Chargers 90 - Malone University Pioneers 64
• Records: Hillsdale (22-3, 15-3 G-MAC) | Malone (14-9, 9-8 G-MAC)
• Location: Canton, Ohio | Osborne Hall

THE GAME
Bo Myers opened the scoring with the first basket for either team just over 40 seconds into the game. 

Both sides traded baskets in the early going, but once Hillsdale broke an 8-8 tie with a two-point bucket, the Chargers did not trail again. 

Hillsdale opened up their first double-digit lead of the night at the 9:11 mark of the first half, and actually led by as many as 15 points in the opening half. 

An 8-0 run by the Pioneers that began and ended with three-pointers by Justin Miller, got Malone to within 7 points. However, the Chargers closed the half strong, and carried a 41-30 advantage into the break. 

Much like the first half, Myers opened up the second-half with a bucket. Unfortunately nine-points would be as close as the Pioneers got the rest of the night. 

Each time Malone looked primed to make a run and get back into the game, the Chargers were able to come away with a basket to keep Malone at bay. 

Hillsdale pushed their lead out to 20 points with just under four minutes left to play, and ultimately came away with the 90-64 win.

DETAILS

• Levi Seiler and Justin Miller each had 17 points to lead Malone's offense.
• Bo Myers added 14 points, and pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds.

WHAT'S NEXT
Malone travels to Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday for a game that will go a long way in determining both who makes the cut of eight teams into the 2023 Great Midwest Championship Tournament, as well as tournament seeding. 

Saturday's tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.

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.