CANTON, Ohio – The defense was locked in for the Malone University men's basketball team's 80-44 victory over the visiting Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats on Tuesday night. The Pioneers advance to 3-2 on the season and the Bobcats fall to 1-4 overall.
 
Malone was able to dominated the painted area to the tune of 40-18. The Pioneers outscored their opponents 16-4 on second chance opportunities. The team shot over 50% once again at 30-for-59 on the day while Bryant & Stratton was held to just 19-for-59 (32.2%) in the game. From three, the Bobcats were just 5-of-23 (21.7%).
 
Malone opened the game on an 18-10 run with a pair of three-point makes by Tre Baumgardner III and Tahleik Walker. The lead would reach double figures for the first time at 25-14 thanks to a pair of free throws from Nate Gordon.
 
The largest lead of the first half came when Caleb Conard capped an 8-0 run at 42-20 with a layup. A three on the other end by the Bobcats would bring the first half score to 42-23.
 
The Pioneers would pour it on in half thanks in part to the continued dominance inside by Conard and Ryan Bartley. Bartley would knock down two from beyond the three-point line in the midst of a 12-0 scoring run to begin the second half.
 
The lead would balloon to a game-high 37 at 74-37 on a dunk by Fraser LaRocque thanks to a feed by Oliver Stefanovic with just over five minutes left to play. Stefanovic, Joey DeGeorge and Jacob Ernst also recorded scores late in the 80-44 triumph.
 
Bartley led all scorers with 20 points and Conard had 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Both student-athletes were 7-of-10 from the floor. Blair was also in double figures with 13 points and five assists.
 
Up next, Malone takes on Grand Valley State University on Saturday, November 23 at 3:00 P.M. inside Osborne Hall. That game will come immediately following the women's basketball game versus Davenport University at 1:00 P.M.