MEN’S BASKETBALL

The HU men’s basketball team stretched its win streak to three by picking off #20 Mount Vernon 71-68 at Ariel Arena Saturday afternoon. Two of the Foresters’ last three wins have been against Top 20 teams.

Today’s victory evens things up for Platt at crew at 13-13 which includes 5 wins against nine losses in league action. With four regular season games remaining, Huntington is currently tied for the eighth spot in the CL standings with Taylor.

Defense was the key to HU’s success. They held their hosts nearly 12 points below their season average. MVNU (18-8, 6-8) entered the afternoon shooting 50.8 percent from the floor to sit 8th nationally in field goal percentage. But on this given day, the Foresters limited the Cougars to just 32.4 percent (22-for-68). It’s just the sixth time this season Mount Vernon, ranked 6th in the previous NAIA poll, has been limited to less than 70 points.

It’s also worth noting the Foresters’ defensive work in the paint. Despite a definite size disparity, HU finished with a season-best eight blocks. Caleb Middlesworth led the charge with four swats while Hank Pulver added a pair.

Hungry to snap their three-game losing skid, the Cougars spent the first 12 minutes of the contest building an 11-point lead of 29-18. Huntington wasn’t having it. Peyton West canned a long ball that spurred on two more treys, one from Andrew Yoder and another from Caleb Middlesworth, on consecutive possessions that was the start of a 16-4 run.

It was a slow burn that took the rest of the half but resulted in Huntington enjoying their first lead of 34-33 heading into recess. No more than two possessions separated the two teams after that with the lead toggling back and forth freely. West drew back-to-back old fashioned three points plays within a 30-second span part way through the second half to give his team a six-point lead both times with the last, a 56-50 difference, coming at the 12-minute mark.

Jacob Paul responded with five of the Cougars’ next seven points to put the hosts back on top 57-56. It was the first of eight more lead changes before Middlesworth buried one from downtown for a permanent Forester lead of 68-66 with 2:52 remaining. Points were at a premium the rest of the way as Paul recorded MVNU’s last two points with :16 ticks to go while the Foresters went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe over the final few minutes to solidify the win.

Middlesworth erupted for 31 points, his fourth 30+ point game of the season, to spearhead the upset. Eighteen of his points came from deep. West posted his first double double of the year with 17 points and a team-best ten rebounds. He also handed out a team-tying five assists. Konner Platt rounded out HU’s double digit scoring with 11 points in addition to dishing out five dimes.

For the Cougars, Jevon Knox finished with 19 points. Paul added 17 points while Austin Jones and Isaac White each tossed in 11. Alex Johnson controlled the glass with 16 rebounds, half of which were offensive.

The Foresters’ next challenge is Tuesday when they host #3 Indiana Wesleyan at 7:00 p.m.