MEN’S BASKETBALL

Offense did not come easy Saturday afternoon for the #RV Huntington men’s basketball team as evidenced by a frustrating 75-51 loss to the 6th-ranked Cougars of Mount Vernon Nazarene University (9-1, 2-1).

It was an uncharacteristic afternoon for the Foresters who came into the ball game averaging nearly 87 points a game and shooting 48.5 percent on the year. HU managed just 51 points, their lowest output of the year, by shooting 20 percent below their season average (.283).

Konner Platt’s three just over two minutes into the game gave Huntington a brief advantage but Austin Jones’ put back at the 15:17 mark gave the hosts an advantage that would stick at 9-7. The Cougars took a double digit lead by the midway point of the first half and kept at least a three-possession distance from their visitors after that.

The lead stood at 15, 41-26, at halftime. Tyler Arens and Platt combined to score their team’s first eight points of the second half to erase the lead to single digits at 43-34 with just under 15 minutes to go. Two and a half minutes later, Wyatt Hughes drained his second long of the year for another nine-point difference by the 12:26 mark.

Six straight points by the Cougars cushioned the lead back to 15 where their lead hovered for the next few minutes before Huntington got stuck on 44 to which their hosts took full advantage. A 58-44 disparity turned into 67-44 disparity within a three-minute span. There was no getting out from under the deficit as the final five minutes came and went to make for the lopsided loss for HU.

There were several positive takeaways for Coach Platt and crew as they limited Mount Vernon to just 75 points, the fewest points scored by the Cougs this season. MVNU entered the day averaging 94.6 points per outing, the sixth best in the nation. The Cougars also entered the contest shooting 52.5 percent as a team for the 5th spot in NAIA Division II but on this given day HU held them to 44.3 percent.

Platt paced Huntington with 15 points and three assists. Arens added 12 points and a team-best nine rebounds.

Jeremiah Roberts topped five Cougars in double digits with 15. Other double digit scorers included Brett Vipperman (13), Jones (11), Isaac White (11) and Jordi Mas (10).

HU (7-3, 0-2) returns to Platt Arena on Tuesday to host Taylor at 7:00 p.m.