March 3, 2008

Malone Men’s Basketball To Host Cedarville In AMC Tournament Title Game Tuesday

     The Malone College men’s basketball team, led by veteran head coach Hal Smith, will host the American Mideast Conference tournament championship game against Cedarville University on Tuesday, March 4th at 7:30 p.m. in Malone’s Osborne Hall.
     Although the Pioneers lost to Walsh University 82-60 in last Tuesday’s AMC North/South Championship Game (after winning the North Division regular-season title), Malone was then placed back into the six-team AMC Tournament as the #1 seed.  After being awarded a first-round bye, Malone defeated Mt. Vernon Nazarene University 101-98 in overtime at home last Saturday in an AMC tournament semifinal game to set up the tournament championship game against Cedarville, which won its semifinal contest against #3 seed Ohio Dominican University 81-67.
     The winner of the #1 Malone (21-9) vs. #2 Cedarville (21-7) championship game on Tuesday will earn the second of two automatic bids to the 32-team NAIA Div. II National Championships in Point Lookout, Missouri March 12-18.  Walsh earned the first AMC automatic bid by virtue of its victory over Malone in the AMC North/South championship game last Tuesday.
     Prior to last Tuesday’s game at Walsh, Malone had not played in a conference championship game in nine years (March 2, 1999; 107-89 loss at home to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University).  Now, in hosting Cedarville on Tuesday, the Pioneers will have played in their second such game in a week, with another automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament on the line.
     While Malone must win Tuesday’s contest to earn a berth in the national event, Cedarville, which is ranked #18 in the final NAIA Div. II national poll, could still very likely receive an at-large bid, even with a loss, based on its national ranking.
     Tuesday’s contest will mark the 88th meeting between the two teams.  Malone holds a 52-35 advantage in the all-time series although the Yellow Jackets have won nine of the last ten meetings, including a thrilling 82-80 victory at Osborne Hall early this season (Nov. 20th).
     Cedarville has won nine of its last 10 games this season, its only loss coming to Walsh 87-82 (at Walsh) on February 9th, while Malone has won six of its last 10 contests.
     The Yellow Jackets, who have qualified for the NAIA national tournament four of the last five seasons, made it to the quarterfinals of last year’s NAIA national event, losing to Mayville State (ND) University 82-81.  Cedarville made it all the way to the national semifinals in 2004-05.
     Malone’s last appearance at the NAIA national tournament was in the 1991-92 season and Smith has taken two of his 25 Pioneer teams to the NAIA national event (the other was the 1989-90 squad).
     Malone is led by senior forward Tyler Renner (Garaway H.S.), senior guard Ben Carver (Shelby H.S.) and senior center Shane Humphrey (Loudonville H.S.) with the trio averaging 17.3, 16.0 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.  Renner leads the team in rebounds at 8.3 per outing.
     Cedarville is paced by senior guard Ryan Short who is averaging 15.8 points per game.  He is followed by sophomore guard Chris Beals at 12.1 and sophomore forward Christopher Walker at 11.3.  Sophomore forward Ricardo Alliman paces the team on the boards at 8.1 per contest.
     Tickets for Tuesday’s game are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students.  Children 12 and under are also $3.00.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Malone Sports Information Office from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Monday or Tuesday or at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (for the same price).  The contest will be broadcast live on the radio at WNPQ 95.9 FM.
     For further information, please contact Malone Sports Information Director Mark Bankert at (330) 471-8293.
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