CANTON, Ohio - The Malone University men's basketball team overwhelmed the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Fighting Scots on Tuesday night by a score of 80-59. The Pioneers moved to 3-1 overall after they dominated the second half 45-31 and pushed Edinboro to 2-3 overall.
 
Despite what appeared to be a size disadvantage on the roster sheet, Malone was the bigger and stronger team inside. The home squad won points in the paint 48-22 and held the rebounding edge 41-26 over a team that was among the nation's leaders in boards, specifically on the offensive end of the floor. A season-high shooting night of 56.1% (32-of-57) helped the Pioneers to victory.
 
Senior Emmanuel Oladeru nearly had a double-double at halftime and finished the game with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Juniors Josiah Pierre (15 points) and Nic Williams (14 points) carried the weight of the offense in scoring as well. Pierre missed a double-double by one rebound with nine on the night. Senior Jake Bruns and freshman Crew Cain were effective off the bench and combined for 14 points on 6-of-7 from the field.
 
Malone netted the first six points of the game and did not allow a bucket until the 16:25 mark in the period. Once they saw one shot fall, the Fighting Scots persisted and drew even at the halfway point in the first, 16-16. An 8-0 scoring run highlighted by a successful three-point try from Bruns helped put the Pioneers back in front 31-24 with less than two minutes to go. A layup from Cain in the final seconds put Malone at a 35-28 advantage.
 
Sophomore Jacob Ernst began a strong second half with a good jump shot in the paint and a 6-0 run gave the team their first double-digit lead of the contest at 41-28. The lead continued to grow after a pair of three's by Williams allowed the Pioneers to be off to the races in the second half. Scores on six straight possessions with under six minutes to play ballooned the lead to 73-53. Malone would ultimately claim their largest lead of the night in the closing seconds of the 80-59 victory with a DeLan Davis layup, the first of his Pioneer career as a freshman.
 
The homestand continues for Malone men's basketball when they host Villa Maria College out of Buffalo, New York on Saturday, November 29 at 4:00 P.M.