MEN’S BASKETBALL

The #RV Huntington men’s basketball team put on a first half scoring clinic in the Hutzell Athletic Center Tuesday night to enjoy a 100-75 win over Saint Francis.

The win is HU’s third straight over the Cougars which includes knocking them out of Crossroads League tourney in opening round action last season.

The visitors were on fire through the opening 14 minutes, missing just three shots, to surge ahead 46-19. By halftime it was a 59-35 difference behind Zach Goodline’s 17 points. Additionally, Landen Jordan and Ben Humrichous had their way against an outsized Cougar squad. Jordan posted a double double of ten points and ten rebounds while Humrichous tossed in 11 points in the  first half dismantling of USF.

The trio finished 17-for-21 from the field in the opening frame. As a team, HU finished the half 26-for-35 for 74.3 percent to blow the game wide open. The Foresters went on to distance themselves by as many as 36 at 91-55 with seven minutes to go on the way to HU’s largest margin of victory since 2018 when they claimed a 97-71 win over USF.

Tonight’s lopsided win is the third time this season HU has posted triple digits with the two other times against Calumet College of St. Joseph and Southern Oregon.

Goodline finished with a game-best 26 points on 10-for-13 shooting while passing out a game-leading seven dimes. He made good on all three of his three-point attempts. The 6-1 guard is shooting an absurd percentage from downtown having connected on 14 of his 18 tries so far this season for 77.8 percent.

Humrichous also put on a show to add 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting in addition to posting three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Hank Pulver and Lane Sparks recorded 13 points and four rebounds apiece. Jordan finished with 12 points and a game- and season-best 15 boards.

Saint Francis (4-4, 0-2) landed four in double digits which included Antwaan Cushingberry with 16, Zane Burke with 14, Branden Northern with 12 and Dan McKeeman with 11.

The Foresters (6-1, 2-0) take a break from league play to host Holy Cross on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.