TIFFIN, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team lost their first game of the season on day two of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Crossover tournament to the McKendree University Bearcats, 65-53. The Pioneers drop to 1-1 on the season, as the Bearcats improve to 2-0.
 
The game started close between the two teams, but McKendree took control with a 12-point lead within the first seven minutes of the half. Shortly after, Crew Cain was able to get a steal and assist Logan Forbes on a fast break three-pointer to cut the Bearcats lead slowly. Cain also found a good jumper halfway through the first half, cutting McKendree's lead down to only seven points.
 
The Pioneers continued to fight an uphill battle to the end of the first half, but headed to the locker room with a 36-23 deficit at halftime. At halftime, Malone was only successful on 10.0% of their three-point shooting compared to the Bearcats three-point shooting success of 50.0%.
 
At the start of the second half, Josiah Pierre was able to hit a jumper and a layup on back-to-back possessions to gain some needed momentum for the Pioneers. From there, Joey DeGeorge and Nic Williams were able cut the Bearcats lead down to just five points during the first six minutes of the second half. From there, McKendree answered back on almost every possession to stretch their lead to 11 points until Jacob Ernst stole the ball and threw one down with 2:46 left in the game.
 
The Bearcats improved their lead to 15 points with 32 seconds left in the game and won 65-53. Williams and DeGeorge were able to put up 12 points each for the Pioneers, while Pierre recorded six rebounds on the night, a team-high.
 
The Pioneers look to regroup from this loss as they travel back home to host the Bryant & Stratton College Bobcats for their home opener on November 18. Tip-off time is at 7:00 P.M.