MEN’S BASKETBALL

It took an extra five minutes for #5 Indiana Wesleyan (18-2, 9-1) to eventually slip past the Huntington men’s basketball team 93-91 Saturday afternoon. It marks the start of second round action of Crossroads League play with today wrapping up IWU’s season sweep over HU as the first time around in the Wildcats won by 12.

The contest featured two of the top ten offensive teams in the nation but fans in Platt Arena saw more of a defensive battle as uncontested shots were few and far between to make scoring more of a chore than a luxury. The two squads combined for 39 fouls with IWU getting to the line 21 times to HU’s 18.

All of HU’s scoring came from their starters while IWU’s starters accounted for all but nine points. For Alford’s crew, nearly 70 percent of their scoring came from their back court with Zach Goodline pouring in 32 points while Lane Sparks adding 31. Jackson Paul chipped in 11 points while Landen Jordan tossed in ten. Jordan also corralled 11 rebounds for the double double.

Javan Buchanan and Griffin Kliewer threw in 26 and 21 points respectively to pace the guests. Buchanan also took charge of the glass to pull down a game-best 15 rebounds. Noah Smith collected 16 points for IWU while Nathan Childress finished with 12.

The afternoon included 13 ties and ten lead changes with HU having a chance to win it in regulation. After Goodline hit an acrobatic layup to knot things up at 81-81 with just over a minute remaining, the Foresters got the stop they needed at the other end of the court to set up the final shot. HU got a good look at a three that rattled off the rim at the buzzer to send the game to OT.

The Wildcats scored on the opening possession of the extra period and never trailed after that. Huntington tied it up twice but couldn’t get over the hump to eventually suffer the heart-breaking loss.

HU (13-7, 6-4) is back in Platt Arena on Wednesday to host #23 Bethel at 7:30 p.m.