Box Score

The Malone University men's basketball team held a lead for nearly 27 minutes on Tuesday night before eventually falling 62-52 in its exhibition game at NCAA Division I Kent State University.

The Golden Flashes, hosting the game as part of their Men Against Breast Cancer Classic, pulled out to an early 12-7 lead before a lay-up by center Brian Stone and a three-pointer by point guard Ben Haraway knotted the score with just over 13 minutes remaining.

After a KSU bucket broke the tie, Malone would use a 16-1 scoring run to build a 28-15 advantage with just under four minutes remaining in the opening stanza.  Junior forward Neil Gingerich helped fueled the spurt, accounting for nine of the Pioneers' 16 points during the run.

The Golden Flashes pulled to within 30-22 at halftime but Malone managed to maintain a lead until the 6:57 mark of the final stanza when a KSU three-pointer tied things up at 46-46.  A pair of Jimmy Hall lay-ups followed to put the hosts on top 50-46. 

Malone would make one last run, cutting the deficit to 53-52 on Stephen O'Daniel III's lay-up with two and a half minutes to go.  However, the Pioneers were held scoreless the rest of the way with KSU tallying the final nine points of the night to secure the hard-fought win.

Haraway led the way for the Pioneers with 16 points.  Gingerich followed with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field.  The 6'7 junor also blocked two shots, grabbed three rebounds and handed out two assists before eventually fouling out of the contest.  Forward Brandon Bapst added five points and nine boards.

Hall had a big night for Kent State, registering 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.

Malone will be back in action on Saturday as the squad hosts its home opener at 1:00 p.m. against Silver Lake (WI) College.