GREENVILLE, S.C. - The February 3 NCCAA Coaches Polls have been released for men's and women's basketball. The Malone University men's basketball team is clinging on to the tenth and final spot in the association rankings and the Malone University women's basketball remains second overall.
 
Since the last poll, the Malone men have lost three out of four and are currently on the outside looking in on the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) postseason. Nonetheless, the 12-9 Pioneers still have plenty of opportunities to climb both the NCCAA national rankings and G-MAC standings in the month of February.
 
Malone has gotten big contributions off the bench in recent games. Freshman Austin Niekamp went for a career-high 18 points on 7-of-11 from the field and he buried four three-point tries in the team's most recent game at Tiffin University. Freshman Tate Aljancic played a career-high 27 minutes against the Dragons and he is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game over his last three contests. Freshman Nick Wigton played 28 minutes off the bench in the team's last two games and scored five points in his time on the floor.
 
On the women's side, the Pioneers picked up their first win at Ashland University since the 2013-14 season with a 68-65 triumph last week. A red-hot shooting start for Malone propelled them to victory. The Pioneers were 6-of-7 from downtown in the first quarter with makes by junior Elena Oliver, senior Erin Kaufman, senior Brinn Hunt and redshirt sophomore Meredith Randulic.
 
Malone has won all three games played since the last iteration of the national poll and have won four consecutive games in total. The Pioneers are still in second place in the NCCAA Coaches Poll with a 16-4 overall record. Number one Campbellsville University is 18-4 and has been the top team in all four NCCAA polls thus far.
 
Malone hosts Northwood University for a doubleheader at home on Thursday, February 5. The women's game tips off at 5:30 P.M. with the men to follow at 7:30 P.M.