MEN’S BASKETBALL

Playing their third Top 20 team in as many outings, the HU men’s basketball team came up short to #16 Bethel College, 92-81, Saturday afternoon at Gates Gymnasium. The loss drops the Foresters to 13-9 overall, 3-7 in league play.

Seven of the Foresters’ nine losses this season have been to Top 20 teams. Their overall record against ranked opponents is 2-7 having beaten Bellevue, ranked 14th at the time, and IU East, ranked 16th at the time.

On this given day, Platt’s crew got off to a fast start by scoring the first eight points of the game behind Caleb Middlesworth’s long ball and put back within the opening 90 seconds. Unfortunately, over the next six minutes, Konner Platt’s triple was the only shot that saw the bottom of the net for HU allowing the Pilots to not only make up the difference but surge ahead by seven at 18-11 with 12 minutes to go in the half.

The hosts would go on to climb the lead to as many as 17 but nine unanswered points by HU in the finals two minutes of the stanza sliced the lead to single digits at 45-37 heading into intermission. The Pilots spent the first seven minutes of the second half claiming what proved the largest gap of the day at 65-47 but no lead is safe when playing the pesky Foresters.

Peyton West led the charge this time by going 3-for-3 from downtown within a three-minute span to erase Huntington’s deficit to two possessions at 65-60 by the midway point. While the Foresters stayed within single digits more times than not the rest of the way, they would get no closer as the Pilots (17-5, 6-4) made the necessary plays, including going 6-for-6 from the line in the final 67 seconds, to preserve their second straight win in conference action.

West, Middlesworth and Zac Owens poured in 18 points apiece to pace Platt’s crew. West also ripped down a game-best seven rebounds, handed out four assists and snagged a pair of steals. Tyler Arens, back in action after missing three games, tossed in 13 points while Platt added 12.

Trey’von Covington led six Pilots in double figures with a game-high 23 points. Other scorers for Bethel included Trevion Crews (17), Paul Forman (14), Ryan Lutz (13), Luke Fisher (12) and Jared DeHart (11).

The Foresters are back in action on Tuesday to host Saint Francis at 7:00 p.m.