NORTH CANTON, Ohio - With back-to-back contests this weekend at Alumni Arena, the Walsh Cavaliers men's basketball team used some major offensive power to bring two wins at the end of 40 minutes. Saturday (Feb. 5) saw the Cavaliers go wire-to-wire over the Malone Pioneers in the 58th Mayors' Cup game, a 90-84 win. Sunday's (Feb. 6) contest featured a high-powered offensive show that Walsh put up 129 points against the Carlow Celtics in a 129-68 win.

After two wins, Walsh improved to 15-5 overall and with the Malone win, now are tied for first place in the conference at 10-3. Malone was receiving votes in the NABC Coaches Poll last week. 

Saturday 2/5 vs. Malone (W, 90-84) 

• The Cavaliers used a season-high 67% shooting first half as they led Malone 53-37 at the intermission break with Walsh making 20 of 30 shots (11-of-14 three pointers). Malone fired back with a feisty second half as they erased an 18-point lead to as many as four, three times in the final minute. Walsh answered every basket and made sure that the Mayors' Cup returned to North Canton in 2022.
• Darryl Straughter led the Cavaliers with 21 points on eight-of-13 shooting, including five three pointers.
• Luke Howes scored a season-high 20 points off the bench with six-of-eight shooting and seven-of-eight completions at the free throw line.
• Garrison Keeslar added 16 points with four assists while the COVID freshman hit five field goals, two threes and four free throws. 
• Tim Smith Jr. tied for the team lead with five rebounds along with his 13 points and two blocks. 
• Milan Square was a perfect four-of-four from beyond the arc for 12 points as he was one of five players in double-figures. 
• Caleb Canter put eight points on the board with four-of-six shooting overall. 
• Walsh finished with a 59.3% field goal percentage (32-54) while shooting 57.1% from deep (12-21) and 77.8% (14-18) from the free throw line. 
• Malone rallied with 34 points from Marcus Ernst but could not keep the Cavaliers out of the win column. 

Sunday 2/6 vs. Carlow (W, 129-68)

• Ten different players combined for 129 points on 64.4% shooting and 55.6% three-point shooting in a 61 point win over Carlow. Seven players reached double-figures in the game.
• The 129 point outburst was the fifth largest in team history, the 4th largest in G-MAC history. The last time Walsh scored at least 129 points was 140 during the 2010-11 season.  
• Walsh took the lead 18 seconds in and never looked back, leading for 39:42 of the game. 
• The 61-point first half was the largest first half for the season and Walsh followed the second half with 68 points with another half of shooting 67% from the floor. 
• Darryl Straughter led all scorers with 25 points in 17 minutes as the fifth-year senior shot eight-of-11 overall and knocked down six three pointers (on nine tries) with three free throws. 
• Zakai Alexander found the sweet stroke from deep on a seven-of-eight shooting day with four three pointers. 
• Caleb Canter was six-of-nine in the paint for 12 points with three rebounds and two blocks. 
• Owen Hazelbaker totaled 16 points on five-of-eight shooting, three-of-six from deep and three-of-four at the line along with six rebounds, two assists and a block. 
• Luke Howes jumped into the starting lineup with a near triple-double of nine points, six rebounds and a career-high seven dimes. 
• Quentin Toles had three steals and ten points in relief.
• Brent Walker went for a monster 14 point, seven rebound, four block effort off the bench on five-of-six shooting. 
• Logan Murray hit the left-handed sweet spot with 11 points on four field goals and a trio of triples. 
• Drue Moore highlighted the bench unit with eight points and six assists, both career-bests. 
• The Cavaliers blocked a season-best eight shots. 
• Carlow's best offense came from Marcus Millien, a 20-point effort. 

Walsh continues the homestand on Thursday (Feb. 10) with a 7:30 PM matchup with the Findlay Oilers.

-WC-