The Basics

Score: Saginaw Valley 72, Malone 69
Records: SVSU (8-2, 5-0 GLIAC) | MU (3-7, 0-5 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The SVSU men's basketball team hosted Malone University to kick-off 2016 in O'Neill Arena on Saturday (Jan.2) afternoon. In a contest that needed more than 40 minutes to decide, the Cardinals would outscore the Pioneers by an 8-5 margin in the first overtime, sealing a 72-69 victory. The win made it seven straight victories for SVSU and keeps them atop the league standings.

The first half was hard-fought, with the Cardinals taking the lead at the 16:10 minute mark and extending it to as many as six at the 15, 14 and 11 minute marks.

The Pioneers were able to take back the lead with 3:42 left in the first half, 30-28.

Vincent Adams tied it up twice with back-to-back layups at the 2:41 and 2:02 minute marks, respectively. Saginaw Valley ended the opening period ahead by one point (36-35) after C.J. Turnage posted a layup with just 12 seconds left in the half.

SV and Malone kept the second half very close, as neither side able to gain more than a three point lead until the Cardinals pulled slightly ahead, 51-47 at the 11 minute mark. This would prove to be the largest lead of the second half.

Malone responded quickly, however, with Brian Stone notching back-to-back layups to put the visitors ahead 52-51 at the 10:00 minute marker.

The teams traded the lead a total of nine times in the last 10 minutes of regulation.

Mitchell Spotleson tied it up for the Pioneers for the last time, 64-64, with 1:03 left to play and the score would remain there and secure an overtime contest after SVSU missed a pair of last-ditch efforts to win the game.

After Malone's Brian Stone opened the bonus basketball session with a layup to give the visitors a 66-64 lead, Damon Bozeman hit a pair of freebies and a triple to give SVSU a 69-66 edge with 2:44 left and Turnage added a layup with just over two minutes showing on the clock to push the lead out to five points at 71-66.

Jay Parker nailed a deep three-pointer with 1:06 on the clock to cut the lead to two points at 71-69. 

A foul by Parker would put SVSU's Kellen Smith on the line with 13 ticks to play and he made the first of his two tries to make the score 72-69. 

A late three-point try by Malone's Stephen O'Daniel III would not fall and Mitchell Baenziger secured the defensive rebound and three-point win for the home team.

Inside the Boxscore

• Turnage posted 21 points, shooting 9-of-13 and tying his season-high and leading the Cardinals offensively. Turnage also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the victory while adding three assists and a block.
• Adams and Mike Wells each added nine points, with Wells adding four rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.
• Damon Bozeman netted 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Cardinals.
• Mitchell Baenziger had six points on a pair of triples and recorded three rebounds and two assists.
• SVSU shot 41.2% (28-68) from the floor, while Malone was 41.8% (28-67).
• The Cardinal bench outscored the Pioneers by a decisive 30-7 margin.
• Stone led the Pioneers with 21 points, going 10-of-12 in shooting.
• SVSU was receiving votes in the latest national top-25 rankings.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Turnage was selected as the Meijer "Player of the Game" after matching his season-highs of 21 points and nine boards.

From Head Coach Randy Baruth...

Up Next for SVSU

Saginaw Valley will play again at home Sunday (Jan. 3) evening against the Walsh University Cavaliers. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. at O'Neill Arena. The Cavaliers (5-4, 3-2 GLIAC) are coming off a 94-90 defeat at Hillsdale College on Saturday afternoon.