AMHERST, N.Y. - The Malone Pioneers, ranked #25 in this week's NAIA Division II poll, exacted some revenge at the hands of the Daemen Wildcats tonight, winning a key American Mideast Conference game 71-68 before 125 fans at Daemen's Lumsden Gymnasium. Daemen, who had knocked off the Pioneers, then ranked #17, just 12 days ago in Canton. However, some sloppy offensive play and a non-existent defensive effort in the first half cost the Wildcats dearly as they were not able to complete a sweep of the seasons series. Malone moves to 16-9 overall and keeps a firm hold on second place in the AMC at 9-4. Daemen, meanwhile, falls back to .500 at 12-12 overall, but perhaps more importantly, they drop to 7-6 in conference with five games remaining in the regular season.
Ebiowei Porbeni paced the Pioneers with 14 points and nine rebounds. The big man, who was hampered by foul trouble in the last meeting vs. Daemen, established a good rhythm early on near the basket. He helped Malone jump out to a 39-32 halftime lead, thanks in large part to 55% shooting (16-for-29) in the stanza. Daemen managed just 38% (12-for-32) in the period.
After Daemen cut the Malone lead to just four at 46-42 with 13:20 to play on a basket by
Khorri Silcott, Malone responded with a 12-2 run to lead by 14 points with 10:10 remaining. Senior Jock Rottman accounted for five points in the run while Porbeni added four.
The Wildcats were able to hang around throughout the rest of the contest and actually cut the Malone advantage to just two at 67-65 with 1:11 to go. It took a 13-4 run to do so as the Wildcats got buckets from
Jim Regan,
Mujeeb Oridami and Dominic Mazzocchi before the spurt was capped by Silcott's driving lay-up in transition.
However, in the biggest spot in the game and needing a stop, Daemen failed to execute on the defensive end as freshman Cory Veldhuizen put home two of his 12 points with 38 seconds remaining to put Malone back up by four. His baseline shot extended high enough, just past the out-stretched arms of
Moustapha Baidy who was attempting to block the shot from the weak-side of the floor.
Daemen came up empty on its' next offensive trip and and a couple Rottman free throws gave Malone enough room to breathe east. Mazzocchi canned a three with 0.2 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Isiah Elliott was fantastic at the point for Malone as he finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Velhuizen added seven boards to go with his 12 points.
Silcott and Mazzocchi each put home 16 points while Oridami was next with 14 to go with five assists.
Mazzocchi added eight rebounds as did Baidy who also score eight points.
Daemen was a dreadful 3-for-16 (19%) from three-point range, making them a disappointing 4-for-33 (12%) in their last two home outings, both losses.
Next up for Daemen is a road trip to Wilberforce this Saturday before a road date vs. #1 ranked Walsh next Tuesday night in Canton. The Wildcats have their work cut out for them if they are to qualify for the AMC playoffs. Only the top five teams qualify and with four of their last five on the road, it seems the odds are stacked against them. Daemen's lone remaining home game will be Tuesday, Feb. 15 vs. rival Roberts Wesleyan.
