MEN’S BASKETBALL

Despite a slow start, the #19 HU men’s basketball team ran away from first-year program IU Columbus 91-67 Friday night of the Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic. With this win, the Foresters improve to 2-0 while the Crimson Wave (0-2) remain on the hunt for the program’s first ever win.

While the hosts enjoyed a lead more often than not, the first half was rather slow going for Alford and crew. IUC stuck around, even claiming a brief one-point advantage on two different occasions, before the Foresters finally picked up the pace with 90 seconds left in the frame.

Drew Goodline and Maximus Gizzi combined to score seven of the final nine points of the half to send their team into break up 38-30. Huntington came out of the locker room a different team. They lit up Platt Arena by scoring the first 15 points of the second half to cushion their lead to 53-30 by the 16:31 mark.

Goodline was at it again, this time teaming up with Landen Jordan to account for the first 11 points after which Jackson Paul and Romain Bruwier each scored to cap off the 15-0 run. For much of the time after that, HU maintained at least a 20-point buffer to make for the lopsided finish.

The glaring statistical differences came by way of second chance points favoring Huntington 23-9. Not surprisingly, points in the paint were also skewed HU’s direction 50-28. All five of Alford’s starters finished in double figures with Goodline leading the way with 20 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Jordan also had an active night by adding 19 points, eight boards and four blocks as did Gizzi who posted 18 points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists. Bruwier and Paul tossed in 11 and ten points respectively.

Owen Law topped all scorers for the Crimson Wave by pouring in 27 points on 10-for-13 shooting.

The Foresters are back in action tomorrow to host Milligan at 4:00 p.m. As part of the Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic festivities, HU will honoree its 2024 Hall of Fame inductees at halftime which includes Joe Beah (’87) for soccer, Dalton Combs (’17) for baseball and the 1991 women’s basketball team.