Box Score
The Malone University men's basketball team (14-12, 11-11 GLIAC) concluded its 2012-2013 season with an 83-77 loss in the Mayors' Cup at Walsh University on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers had to play catch-up from the game's opening whistle after conceding the game's first 6 points. Malone would trail by as much as 10 in the half but managed to close strong to head into the locker room down 36-29.
Malone would pull within five points at 46-41 just five minutes into the second half before Walsh went on a 12-3 run. The lead would eventually swell to 66-50 with 7:09 to play before the Pioneers made their charge. A three-pointer from junior
Cory Veldhuizen, a layup from senior
Kyle Lodermeier and a jump shot from freshman
Christian Graves brought the deficit back to single digits with 4:26 remaining. A Veldhuizen layup with 55 seconds to go cut the lead to 76-70 but Walsh's Jeff Copeland split a pair of free-throws on the ensuing trip down the floor and the Cavaliers would get a stop to halt the threat.
Senior
Zach Bates saved arguably the best game of his career for his last one, tying a career-high with 22 points in 27 minutes of action. Veldhuizen also had a strong outing, finishing with 21 points on nine of 12 shooting and eight rebounds. Graves and freshman
Stephen O'Daniel III were the other Pioneers to finish in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Walsh's Kenny Kornowski was a handful all afternoon, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds while Copeland added 21 points and five boards.
Malone converted on 31 of its 66 shot attempts (47.0%), connecting on five of 19 from three-point range. Walsh finished 30 of 59 (50.8%) and four of 15 (26.7%) from beyond the arc. The Cavs went to the line 28 times, converting on 19 while Malone was 10 of 14 from the charity stripe (71.4%).
With the loss, the Pioneers ended up falling one game shy of the .550 winning percentage that was required in order for the squad to compete in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) postseason.
Big Time Sports will broadcast Saturday's game on tape delay. The replay of the game can be seen on Time Warner Cable Channel 989 and MCTV 128 or with an antenna 39.1. Replay times are Saturday, Mar. 2nd, at 11:00 pm and Sunday, Mar. 3rd at 1:00 pm.
