CANTON, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team hosted their first home game of the season against Bryant & Stratton College. They pulled out a 68-54 win against the Bobcats to put them at 2-1 and Bryant & Stratton now holds a 2-3 record.
 
The game started slow with no points until 17:03 with a layup from Josiah Pierre. Bryant & Stratton kept it close but a pair of threes from Nic Williams held the Pioneer lead. Shortly after, Emmanuel Oladeru made a dunk to make it 12-5 with 10:43 left in the first. Malone extended their lead to double digits after back-to-back buckets from Williams with 4:40 left in the half (25-13). To end the half, the Bobcats hit a three to make it 30-20.
 
To start the second half, Bryant & Stratton went on a 9-4 run to shorten the lead to five. Jacob Ernst was able to net six straight points for the Pioneers to make the score 40-31. At the halfway point of the period, the Bobcats started a 7-0 run to tie the game. A three from Bryant & Stratton gave them their first and only lead at 46-45 with less than eight minutes left to go.
 
The lead would be short lived as Malone went on a 14-0 run. Joey DeGeorge's layup to take the lead and a fastbreak dunk from Oladeru highlighted the scoring spree. Over the final 2:40 of the game, the Pioneers were able to match the Bobcats point-for-point to end the game at 68-54.
 
Malone won in points in the paint, 36-26, and second chance points, 18-14. Williams ended the game with 22 points, his season-high. He shot 60% from the field (9-of-15). Close behind him were Ernst and Oladeru each with 18 points on the game. Ernst also had five assists and Oladeru with three blocks. Jake Bruns led the Pioneers in rebounds with 11 and steals with four.
 
Up next, Malone men's basketball is back home against Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Tip-off is on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 P.M.