ASHLAND, Ohio - The Malone University men's basketball team fell 82-67 to Wayne State University out of Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday night. The Pioneers fall to 2-1 and the Warriors are 1-1.
The Pioneers and Warriors traded baskets to begin the first half and were knotted up 5-5. Aaron Chapman and Jannoy Thomas added back-to-back three-point baskets that gave Malone a 13-7 lead. The Warriors responded with a 7-0 run and took a 14-13 lead with 12:41 left in the first half. After more back-and-forth action from both squads, Gabe Sisk buried a three that was assisted by Thomas that grabbed Malone a 21-19 lead. Chapman found the bottom of the net from the three-point line that tied the contest at 28. The Pioneers grabbed a 34-30 lead after a Tate Aljancic layup with 1:03 left in the first half. Wayne State held the advantage heading into halftime 35-34.
Malone struck first in the opening 10 seconds of the second half with a Sisk layup that was assisted by Austin Niekamp. The Pioneer defense held strong after a Malachi McNair block with 15:46 remaining in the second half. The Warriors went on a 9-1 run and took a 50-41 lead. An Aljancic layup cut into the Warrior lead and made it 59-52. The Pioneers capitalized on a Wayne State turnover with a Sisk jump shot to cut into the lead and made it 65-58. The Warriors went on a 17-9 run in the final six minutes of action to win 82-67.
The Warriors held the points in the paint advantage 27-8, and second-chance points 12-6. The Pioneers shot 40% (22-55) from the field with a 72.2% (13-18) from the free-throw line. Sisk had a team-high 24 points and Chapman had 22 for Malone. Thomas dished out a team-high five assists for the Pioneers. Sisk also led the team in rebounds with seven.
The Pioneers return to action for an exhibition contest at Wright State University on Wednesday, November 18Â at 7:30 P.M in Dayton Ohio.Â
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