OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Malone University men's basketball team started the madness with an upset victory in the Quarterfinal Round of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament over Kentucky Wesleyan College, 72-62. The seventh-seeded Pioneers advance to the G-MAC Semifinals, which will be solidified later tonight with the other three quarterfinal matchups. The season continues for Malone with a 14-15 record and the two seed Kentucky Wesleyan's season most likely comes to an end at 22-7.
 
The Pioneers were off and running to start the game up 10-2 at the first media timeout. Tahleik Walker and Simon Blair buried three-point field goals and Panther turnovers led to five points for Malone on the other end of the floor. Nine total points from Blair on 4-fo-4 shooting in the first eight minutes extended the lead to double figures at 16-6.
 
An 8-0 run by Kentucky Wesleyan forced Head Coach Charlie Wallrapp to a timeout, but the Pioneers remained in front, 16-14 near the halfway point in the first half. Caleb Conard finished off a steal by Walker with a dunk to break the scoreless drought. An off-balance three by Tre Baumgardner III helped keep Malone in front as well, 21-14. Conard and Ryan Bartley did the same later in the period to make it 32-24 Pioneers.
 
The defense settled in as Malone held their opponents without a field goal over the final 5:38 in the first half. The Pioneers took an eight-point lead into the locker room, 34-26. The Panthers settled for mid-range jump shots and they did not fall with efficiency in a 9-for-22 (40.9%) first half.
 
Both squads went back and forth with makes to open the second half and Malone kept their eight-point edge, 47-39 at the under-12 media timeout. Kentucky Wesleyan continued to battle back and an 8-0 run allowed them to draw back to even at 49 with eight minutes and change to play.
 
A three by Walker and hook shot by Bartley allowed Malone to regain the lead and get some breathing room at 56-50. Missed opportunities at the charity stripe put Baumgardner III in position to knock down a huge three before the final media timeout, 59-53.
 
Walker scored seven points down the stretch, including a successful three-point try coming out of the media timeout to increase their lead. The Pioneers were 10-for-12 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to secure the ten-point victory, 72-62.
 
Blair's 24 points led the team on offense while Conard (14 points), Walker (13 points) and Baumgardner III (12 points) were all in double figures. Walker had a team-high nine rebounds and Baumgardner III dished out six assists. Malone won the paint battle 28-22 and the Panthers were held to 4-of-19 (21.1%) from three-point range.
 
The Pioneers will face the winner of the Hillsdale College versus Ashland University game in Michigan. That game begins at 7:30 P.M.