MEN’S BASKETBALL

Amidst a sea of Huntington County fifth graders, the HU men’s basketball team ran away with a 90-63 win over East-West University on the Foresters’ second annual Integrity Day. The newly formed alliance with Huntington County Community School Corporation is an event to highlight and celebrate the NAIA’s five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

While Platt and company outscored their visitors in each half, it was the opening 20 minutes that set the tone for the blowout. Caleb Middlesworth scored on a fast break at the midway point of the first frame to give the Foresters their initial double-digit lead of 26-15. Ninety seconds later, after a Peyton West triple, Huntington staked out a permanent double-digit advantage that grew to 21, 49-28, by the break.

The final 27-point spread proved the largest gap of the afternoon with the lead never dipping below 13 points in the second half. For the sixth time this season, HU shot over 50.0 percent from the field (30-for-53) which included draining threes at an even higher rate of 52.2 percent (12-for-23). Just as notable was that 19 of the Foresters’ 30 field goals were assisted.

Platt’s crew also got to the line 23 times while limiting the Phantoms to just six trips to the charity stripe. The Foresters also outrebounded their guests 32-23 highlighted by nine offensive boards that they cashed in for 14 points.

Caleb Middlesworth posted a season-high 23 points to top all scorers. The 6-8 forward also led his team in rebounds with six. West scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half. He also added five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Konner Platt tossed in 15 points as HU’s only other double-digit scorer. Lewis Wang came off the bench to chip in seven.

The Phantoms were paced by Rodney Gaston’s 19 points and five steals. Brandon Daughtery and Kenneth King added 15 and 13 points respectively. King also corralled ten rebounds for the game’s only double double.

Today’s win is HU’s seventh against five losses. The Foresters wrap up 2019 with a trip to the sunshine state where they will face St. Thomas on Friday and Florida Memorial on Saturday.