MEN’S BASKETBALL

In a game that came down to the wire, the HU men’s basketball team (3-2) came out on the short end of a 54-50 decision to Shawnee State University Friday afternoon at the Hoops for Hope Classic hosted by Grace College.

With the score knotted at 50-50 with 35 ticks remaining, things fell into place for the Bears much to the chagrin of Platt and company. After Shawnee State took a two-point lead with 13.3 seconds remaining, the Foresters’ three attempt rolled off the rim forcing HU to foul. Kyree Elder, who had scored the go-head bucket 30 seconds earlier, nailed both his freebies to solidify the win.

The last time these two teams met dates back to December of 2010 when HU recorded a 95-83 win. Under Platt’s tenure, Huntington’s record against SSU stands at 2-2.

Defense dominated the day. It was the lowest output of the year for both teams and not surprisingly, both squads shot well below their season average.

The Bears controlled the first half to build a ten-point lead 12 minutes in before heading into break up 26-19. It took Huntington five minutes into the second frame to even things up at 30-30 for the game’s third tie. A trio of threes by three different Foresters in Caleb Middlesworth, Spencer Ballinger and Wyatt Hughes highlighted HU’s 11-4 run.

No more than two possessions separated the two teams after that with the Bears building a six-point cushion of 43-37 at the 7:34 mark before Middlesworth and Ballinger willed their team back in it. Middlesworth buried back-to-back threes after which Ballinger canned his fourth long ball to give Huntington its first lead, 46-44, since early in the first period.

Keegan Fetters upped HU’s lead to 48-44 on the next possession. It served as his team’s largest lead of the afternoon but was erased with 2:47 to go. A pair of Ballinger free throws forced the game’s final stalemate at 50-50 before Elder’s heroics lifted his team past the Foresters.

Ballinger topped all scoring with 22 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists. Middlesworth added 13 points as Huntington’s only other double-digit scorer. He also pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds for his second double double of the year.

Elder led the Bears with 21 points off the bench.

HU is back in action at the Hoops for Hope Classic tomorrow at noon to square off with Holy Family.