INDIANAPOLIS – A perfect run through the postseason tournament bracket translated to Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors for Malone as announced on Monday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers disrupted the bracket as the No. 4 seed and earned the Great Midwest AQ into the NCAA Atlantic Regional. Malone joined Hillsdale as NCAA qualifiers this season for the regional and will both travel to West Liberty, WV, for March Madness as part of the field of 48 teams selected.
 
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Justin Miller
Malone
Guard/Forward
RS Junior
East Liverpool, OH (Wellsville HS/Tiffin)
 
If there was an X-factor for the program's current 10-game win streak with the first conference title, look no further than the contributions of Miller, who continues to make some big-time shots and is instant offense in the current role he is assigned.
 
Armed with one of the purest shooting forms in the conference, Miller was second in the regular season in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and serves as the first one off the bench for Malone in the sixth man role. Despite not being in the starting five, Miller still plays close to 30 minutes per contest while averaging double-digit scoring.
 
He averaged 16.7 points per game in the three playoff performances against No. 5 seed Walsh, No. 1 Hillsdale and No. 6 Cedarville, while shooting almost 55 percent from the field.
 
In Tuesday's quarterfinals, Miller scored 18 points and added four rebounds and four assists while shooting 7-of-12. In 29 minutes in the conference tournament semifinals, Miller was 4-of-5 with 12 points and five rebounds and three assists.
 
His championship performance really helped turn the tide in the second half against Cedarville in the title final. Miller had a team-high and season-best effort of 20 points, including three triples, to go with eight boards and three assists.
 
Miller has scored in double figures for five consecutive games going into the NCAA Atlantic Regional against No. 3 seed West Liberty. He is shooting over 48 percent for the season while averaging 11.3 points per game.