CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team competed at home for the first time on Tuesday evening against Kent State University at Tuscarawas. The Pioneers came away with a 98-65 victory, led by senior
Ed Wright II with 28 points. Wright II also scored his 2,000th career point in the triumph.
Malone began the game with a 10-0 run, punctuated by a successful three-point try by
Tre Baumgardner III. A dunk by junior
Nate Gordon helped keep the foot on the gas for the offense, but the Golden Eagles were able to fire away from deep to cut into the Pioneer lead.
The lead was trimmed down all the way to five at 37-32 with four minutes and change to go in the first half as Kent-Tusc. mounted a comeback. Senior
Simon Blair would bury a three to stop the bleeding and ultimately spark a run to end the first half. A 15-5 run made the difference 52-37 at the break. Senior
Ryan Bartley had five points during that time.
Wright II buried a pair of long-range shots to create positive momentum in the second half. The defense was able to go to a new level in the second half by holding the Golden Eagles to just 28 points.
Another big run, this time 12-0 from 9:14 to 3:56 remaining in the game, sealed the deal for Malone in the game. The Pioneers would dominate the painted area during that run and for the game, 48-14.
Freshman
Joey DeGeorge, freshman
Oliver Stefanovic and senior
Josh Smith entered the game late and got in the scoring column. It was the first career points for the freshmen DeGeorge and Stefanovic in the blowout win, 98-65.
Wright II's 28 points led the team and he was 6-of-13 from deep. All five starters ended up in double figures offensively. Junior
Caleb Conard had a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Blair recorded seven assists.
As a team, Malone was 38-of-75 (50.7%) from the field and 14-of-31 (45.2%) from downtown. The defense held Kent-Tusc. to just 28.2% shooting (20-for-71). The Pioneers outrebounded their opponents 51-41.
Up next, Malone travels east to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. That game will be held on Saturday, November 16 beginning at 7:30 P.M.
