CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team started 2025 with a victory against Bryant & Stratton College (Buffalo) on Thursday afternoon by a score of 69-56. The Pioneers are 5-7 overall as the remainder of the schedule is filled with Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opposition.
 
Malone's defense was key in the win after they held the Bobcats to 37.5% (21-of-56) from the field. The home squad held a firm advantage on the glass at 48-34, with 17 offensive rebounds credited to the Pioneers. Malone had a 20-11 edge in second chance points.
 
Redshirt junior Caleb Conard had a team-high 15 points and tied with senior Tahleik Walker with nine rebounds. Seniors Tre Baumgardner III, Fraser LaRocque and Ed Wright II had six rebounds apiece. Baumgardner III led the team with five assists. Senior Simon Blair (14 points) and Wright II (12 points) buried three shots each from beyond the arc.
 
After scoring the first five points of the game, the Pioneers went ice cold from the field as Bryant & Stratton took a 13-point lead late in the first half. A successful three-point try by Wright II sparked a 14-0 run to close the first half over the final four minutes.
 
Baumgardner III found Conard inside and then LaRocque for back-to-back scores. Walker rebounds led to points on consecutive possessions and Baumgardner III crashed the offensive glass for two just before the final buzzer of the first half to give Malone a 29-28 lead.
 
The Bobcats gave one final push at the start of the second period, but the scoring run by the Pioneers was enough to open the floodgates and overwhelm their Empire State opponents. Malone outscored Bryant & Stratton 40-28 in the final 20 minutes. Blair led the Pioneers with 10 points and three assists in that time, the highlight of which was when he found LaRocque for an emphatic dunk. The rebounding margin was lopsided in the second half, 28-13.
 
Malone hosts Ashland University on Saturday, January 4 for their next game. Tip-off is set for 3:00 P.M.