ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Malone University men's basketball team fell to 0-2 with an 84-70 loss to McKendree University (2-0) on day two of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Crossover.
 
Hot three-point shooting by the Bearcats gave them the early lead on a neutral floor at 27-17 nearly halfway through the first half. The lead for McKendree would grow all the way to 14 with just under five minutes remaining.
 
The Pioneers would go on a crucial 11-0 run to get the team to within one possession. Senior Tre Baumgardner III scored six points during the scoring spree. Senior Simon Blair made it a two-point game at 42-40 as the half came to a close.
 
Junior Caleb Conard started the second half with a basket and Blair gave the team the lead with a three-point try, but a 9-0 run for the Bearcats thwarted the positive momentum. McKendree took a double-digit advantage with 12 minutes left on the clock and the opponents did not look back from there for the duration of the contest.
 
As the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 84-70 in favor of the Bearcats. The biggest difference for the teams was a 24-4 difference in scoring off of turnovers for McKendree. Each team had 28 paint points and Malone held a 13-2 edge in scoring on second chances.
 
Baumgardner III led the Pioneers in individual scoring (16 points) and rebounding (nine boards). Conard and Blair were starters in double figures as well with 15 and 14 points and junior Jake Bruns had 10 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
 
Malone will compete at home for the first time on Tuesday, November 12 against Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Tip-off is set for 7:00 P.M.