CANTON, Ohio – Charleston's three-game win streak came to an end Wednesday afternoon after dropping a two-point contest on the road at Malone University, 84-82  

Just the Basics
SCORE: Malone 84, Charleston 82
TEAM RECORDS 
Charleston (7-4, 3-3 MEC)
Malone (7-6, 2-4 GMAC)

How it Happened
Charleston overcame a slow start in their first game in 11 days, falling behind by as many as 17 points late in the first half to end the first 20 minutes on a 18-5 run and only trail the Pioneers by four, 41-37, heading into the halftime break.  UC got 12 first half points from Charleston's leading scorer Drew Rackley to keep the Golden Eagles within striking distance.
 
Coach Dwaine Osborne put the game in sophomore Lamont McManus' hands in the second half and the big man didn't disappoint, scoring 21 of his career-best 27 points to help Charleston build a 6-point, 78-72, lead with just under three minutes left in the game.  As it has been for the 2018-19, UC struggled to put away the hosts with the Pioneers tying the game at 80-80 after a deep corner three-pointer by Nate Sheppard with :43 remaining.
 
UC's bench was assessed a technical foul during a timeout that allowed Malone to take a brief one-point lead.  Seth O'Neal put Charleston back on top after a driving layup only to see Sheppard connect again from deep to go up 84-82 with under 20 seconds left to play. Charleston's Josh Floyd got into the paint to draw a foul on a driving attempt with three seconds remaining but couldn't connect from the line to tie the game resulting in a tough two-point road loss at the hands of the Pioneers.
 
Charleston's O'Neal also put together a strong outing Wednesday afternoon, setting a career-best by dishing out nine assists in the UC loss.
 
UC Game Leaders
Points – Lamont McManus (27)
Rebounds – McManus (8), Josh Floyd (8)
Assists – Seth O'Neal (9)
Blocks – Drew Rackley (1)
Steals – O'Neal (2)
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will host Kentucky Christian as they open up 2019. Charleston and the Knights will tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 3^rdin the Wehrle Innovation Center.