TIFFIN, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team kicked their season off at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Crossover. They won against Lewis University 66-61. The Pioneers are now 1-0 and the Flyers now 0-1.
 
Josiah Pierre started Malone off strong with an and-one. The Pioneers would extend their lead to 7-0 at the start of the first half with a lay-up and dunk by Emmanuel Oladeru. Lewis couldn't find the basket until 17:12 in the half. After this, the two teams battled for the lead until 4:40 left in the first, when the Flyers took the lead at halftime, 31-28.
 
Back-to-back threes from Joey DeGeorge and Nic Williams put Malone up 38-36 at 15:52 left in the second half. Again, the teams went back and forth with the lead. A layup from Logan Forbes put the Pioneers back in the lead remainder of the game. Buckets from Oladeru, Williams, and Jacob Ernst kept Malone in front with a nine-point lead. The Flyers brought the game down to the wire with two free throws with 52 seconds left in the game, but a key defensive stop kept Malone ahead 64-61. Williams ended the game with two made free throws to make it a two-possession game and preserve the 66-61 victory.
 
The Pioneers won in second chance points 11-4 and points in the paint 34-26. Oladeru led the team in points with 16. Behind him were Pierre and Williams each with 12. Pierre also led Malone in rebounds with 10 for a double-double.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, November 15 for day two of the G-MAC/ GLVC Crossover against McKendree University in Tiffin, Ohio. Tip-off will be at 3:30 P.M.