TIFFIN, Ohio – The Malone University men's basketball team lost on the road against the Tiffin University Dragons, 72-61. On the season, the Pioneers fall to 12-9 while the Dragons improve to 6-14. In the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Malone stands at 5-8, and Tiffin earns their second conference win of the year at 2-11.
 
The Pioneers started the first half off slowly and fell behind 9-0. The first score came on a layup by Nic Williams to cut the Dragons' lead to 9-2 at 16:24. Malone would cut the Tiffin's lead to 13-8 with a layup by Jacob Ernst with 13:14 in the first half but the five-point deficit was the closest gap of the first half as Tiffin would extend their lead over the Pioneers to 25-10 at the 7:40 mark.
 
With 32 seconds left in the first half, Joey DeGeorge sank a three for Malone, but the team trailed 36-26 at halftime. The Pioneers headed to the locker room with a rocky 34.5% (10-for-24) from the field and a 27.3% (3-for-11) from three.
 
The second half was not easy for Malone as they trailed 52-32 with 12:42 left in the game. Austin Niekamp cut the Dragon's lead to 52-35 with a three, and then Williams had a layup on another possession to close the point deficit to 52-39 with 10:34 to go. Tiffin continued their pressure as they created a 68-49 lead over the Pioneers with 3:14 left in the game. Malone gave a last-ditch effort at the end by Williams and Niekamp, but Tiffin had a strong enough lead to hold the Pioneers 72-61 at the buzzer.
 
Although the Pioneers had a tough loss, Niekamp finished the game with a career-high of 18 points (7-of-11), and DeGeorge had a career-high for steals (three). Williams and DeGeorge were also in double-digits scoring with 11 points each. Williams dished out six assists and Tate Aljancic led Malone in rebounds with six.  
 
The Pioneers look to regroup as they defend Osborne Hall from the Northwood University Timberwolves on February 5. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.