MEN’S BASKETBALL

The #18 HU men’s basketball team got the job done Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena by handing the visiting Cougars of Mount Vernon an 87-82 loss. The win is Huntington’s eighth straight as they improve to 21-6 overall which includes a 13-4 record in CL action.

Today’s victory also completed the regular season sweep over the Cougars (13-13, 6-10) with HU’s first W, an 81-65 decision, dating back to early December.

MVNU didn’t go down without a fight. It was their activity beyond the arc that kept them in it. The guests scored 36 points from the cheap seats to HU’s 18. While the disparity was notable, it could be argued that it was three-pointers that ultimately won the game for Alford and crew. Specifically Joel Dyer’s threes.

The 5-9 junior was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep with all three coming in the final eight minutes. His first trey cushioned his team’s lead to six at 73-67 with 7:56 to go. Unfortunately things swayed MNVU’s way over the next three minutes as they went off for 11 straight points for a 78-73 lead.

Huntington had five minutes to get back in it. It took them three to close the gap to one at 80-79 and then it became the Joel Dyer show. He buried back-to-back threes that found nothing but the bottom of the net to turn the tides for an 85-80 HU lead with 1:16 to go.

The visitors got two back on the next possession, but Lane Sparks solidified the win when he canned two freebies with five ticks remaining.

When all was said and done, the game featured 20 lead changes and eight ties. Eight points was the largest disparity of the afternoon and it came at the 14-minute mark of the second half on a Landen Jordan dunk that pushed HU’s lead to 56-48.

Sparks and Zach Goodline were a tag team, pouring in 21 points apiece. Sparks also tracked down a team-leading ten rebounds and swiped two steals while Goodline posted five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Jordan finished with 14 points and seven boards.

Ben Humrichous and Dyer both added 11 points in the winning effort.

Kyle Kegley topped all scorers with 23 points to go along with ten rebounds for MVNU. Clay Hilliard finished with 16 off the bench while Kade Ruegsegger and Trent Koning tossed in 11 points each.

The Foresters have a week’s break before heading to Goshen for their final regular season game on Saturday. HU is currently in second place behind Grace and IWU who are tied for first.