MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington men’s basketball team picked up their first league win of the year, a 79-69 decision, against Saint Francis (7-3, 2-1) Saturday afternoon in front of a full Platt Arena. With this win, HU improves to 4-5 overall, 1-2 in CL action.

The Foresters have strung together five straight wins over their neighbors to the northeast.

It wasn’t a typical game for either squad. Both teams have a bent towards offense as evidenced by averaging over 90 points per game and shooting over 50 percent from the field. However, today’s matchup was much more of a defensive battle.

The first 20 minutes came and went with the hosts taking a 35-28 lead into intermission. While both teams struggled from the field, logging shooting percentages in the twenties, they made up for it at the line where HU went 13-for-16 while USF finished the half 12-for-14.

Offense came a little more alive in the second frame. The Foresters got the lift they needed from their playmaker Zach Goodline. After managing just two points through the first 26 minutes, the 6-1 point guard went off for 17 points in the final 14 minutes to finish with a team-best 19 points and will his team to the win.

His scoring rampage started with a three at the 13:32 mark that knotted things up at 43-43. He went on to rack up seven of HU’s next 12 points over a three-minute span to put his team permanently on top at 55-52. Huntington held a one or two-possession lead until Landen Jordan sunk a pair of free throws to put Alford’s crew up 72-65 with just over two minutes remaining.

After that, the Foresters kept their distance compliments of several more trips to the charity stripe with Mitchell Wilson putting the finishing touches on the afternoon with a steal and layup to up the lead to ten which held until the final buzzer.

In addition to Goodline’s 19 points, Jordan tossed in 14 and grabbed 12 rebounds, half on the offensive glass, for the double double. Jackson Paul finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Gage McGuire came off the bench to record nine points and six boards.

Luke Almodovar topped all scorers with 25 points. Zane Burke added 16 points and 11 boards. Joe Reidy tossed in ten while the Foresters held Charlie Yoder to eight, 11 points less than his season average.

Next up for Huntington is another home game on Tuesday against East-West at 7:00 p.m.