MEN’S BASKETBALL

Playing against one of the most potent scoring teams in the nation in Marian University, the HU men’s basketball team struggled to get much going on their offensive end to make for a long night at the PE Center. While the Foresters kept it close throughout the first ten minutes, things went awry after that with the final score favoring the #13 Knights 89-63.

Caleb Middlesworth buried a pair of triples early on with his second knotting things up 10-10 at the 16:36 mark. Two minutes later, he scored again, this time in the paint, to force the game’s second tie at 16s. In between the two stalemates, Spencer Ballinger took to the hardwood and offered his team instant offense.

The 6-5 rookie scored six points over a four-minute stretch to put HU on top 23-18 with 11 minutes left in the half. It was visitors’ largest lead of the evening and much to their chagrin, was erased too quickly. MU rattled off six consecutive points to reclaim the lead at 24-23. Ballinger dropped in two more points for one final Huntington lead at the midway point before things went south.

The Foresters managed just eight more points the rest of the period while the Knights collected points at a steady rate to take a comfortable 20-point lead of 51-31 into intermission. Except two brief possessions, Marian’s lead never dipped below 20 in the second frame to make for an uneventful final 20 minutes.

Middlesworth and Ballinger finished with 27 and 12 points respectively as the only two Foresters to hit double figures. Middlesworth also enjoyed team-high rebounding honors with eight. Peyton West added five points, seven boards and five assists. Nick Macon handed out a team-best six dimes.

Marian has won eight of its last nine contests and are currently sitting third in the league standings. They rely on a balanced attack and tonight was no different as five Knights landed in double digits.

Sterling Brown poured in 18 points. Cameron Wolter tossed in 16 to go along with 12 rebounds for the night’s only double double. Wes Stowers netted 14 points and dished out eight assists. TJ Henderson and Hayden Langkabel each added ten points.

The Foresters (13-8, 3-6) hit the road again on Saturday to face Bethel at 3:00 p.m.