INDIANAPOLIS – As student-athletes aim to finish the calendar year strong with their finals in the classroom and play on the court, Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week honors were announced on Monday for Malone.
 
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Justin Miller
Malone
Guard
RS Senior
East Liverpool, OH (Wellsville/Tiffin)
 
The Pioneers are on that quest to defend a conference tournament title from an amazing 2020-21 campaign, a task that is never easy to do as the league competitiveness continues to increase.
 
Malone is one of three teams with a perfect start in the conference standings following home wins vs. Trevecca Nazarene and Kentucky Wesleyan while improving to 7-2 overall.
 
After starting the first five games of the season, Miller’s impact as the first one off the bench in the last five contests have only magnified his effectiveness and efficiency while logging what equates to starter minutes.
 
Miller averaged 18.5 points per game while supplementing his scoring numbers with seven assists and five rebounds. He nearly shot 61 percent from the field while connecting on 14 of his 23 shot attempts.
 
Miller’s versatility as a true swingman makes for a difficult matchup when checking in. He creates for his teammates and keeps the defense honest with a deadly perimeter game. Miller has shot even or better than north of 50 percent in eight consecutive games.
 
On Thursday, Miller scored a game-high 21 points against TNU and was halfway to a triple-double with seven boards and five assists. He was 7-of-11 from the field, including 4-for-5 from long range.
 
Miller’s peripherals were matched with seven rebounds and five assists in Saturday’s victory over KWC. He was one of four Malone players in double-figures as he scored 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
 
Miller serves as the current league leader in assists (5.2 apg) and is currently fourth in the league in scoring (18.0 ppg) and fifth among all players in shooting percentage (.568).