CANTON, Ohio - The Malone men's basketball team hosted a non-conference matchup with the Grand Valley State Lakers from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team would fall 71-68 inside Osborne Hall to drop to 3-3 while the Lakers improve to 3-1. 
 
The game started with each team answering each other basket for basket. Malone held a narrow 34-33 lead at the break. Both teams using a balanced scoring attack, it was evenly matched with the largest lead held by either side being seven by Grand Valley State.
 
The second half remained close as both teams traded baskets throughout the period. The score tied 14 times and there were 17 lead changes as both teams worked for the advantage. Both teams struggled slightly from behind the arc with Grand Valley shooting 32.0% on the game and Malone shooting 34.8%.
 
Momentum swung inside of five minutes in the second for the Lakers as they were able to extend their lead up to seven points. Graduate guards Simon Blair and Tre Baumgardner III both made a timely buckets inside of two minutes to trim the deficit to two, but Malone never regained the lead.   
 
The Pioneers continue to show a balanced scoring approach with four players getting into double figures scoring. Senior Ryan Bartley led the scoring for Malone with 21 points shooting 57.1% from the field including three shots from deep. Redshirt junior Caleb Conard also stood out with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. He made an impact defensively with one block and two steals.
 
In a tight statistical battle, the Pioneers and Lakers found themselves tied in fastbreak points at eight and GVSU led points in the paint, 32-30. The Lakers also led in bench points 18-4 and second chance points 16-7, while Malone led in points off turnovers, 17-12.
 
The Pioneers next game will begin their schedule against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) competition. The team faces the University of Findlay on Thursday, December 5 at 7:30 P.M.