MEN’S BASKETBALL

The 12th-seeded HU men’s basketball team suffered an 88-80 loss to 4th-seeded Faulkner (26-6) Saturday night at the Tine W. Davis Gymnasium. The loss brings an end to their season and comes on the heels of an 80-69 win last night over Georgetown that sent them to round two of the NAIA National Tournament.

“Reaching the national tournament was a goal of ours this season,” said Coach Kory Alford. “For us to accomplish that and advance to the round of 32 was a tremendous step in the right direction for our basketball program.

“From the time we started practice back in September, this group of young men has been committed to finding ways to continue to improve. This team has been a joy to be around every day and I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished this year.”

It was the first time these two programs clashed and the stakes were high as a trip to the Sweet Sixteen was on the line.

The battle began with both teams looking for any sort of leverage. Huntington got its lift from Lane Sparks who dropped eight points in three minutes to give the visitors a 22-18 advantage by the midway point of the first period.

Unfortunately, the Foresters got stuck on 22 for nearly five minutes after that which allowed the Eagles to reel off 12 straight points to turn HU’s four-point lead into a 30-22 Faulkner advantage with five minutes left in the half. The spurt proved significant as Huntington never enjoyed a lead after that.

While the visitors played catch up the rest of the way, they were never to be counted out. By halftime, Alford and crew whittled their deficit to a single point, 35-34, and then knotted things up at 40 less than three minutes into the second frame.

Faulkner scored on five of their next six possessions to build back a lead of 52-44. At least six points separated the two squads over the next few minutes with the hosts sitting on a ten-point spread of 63-53 with ten minutes to go.

The Foresters found new life in Caleb Middlesworth and Sparks who teamed up to score their team’s next 12 points for a furious comeback that pulled HU within two at 67-65 with just under six minutes to go. Two missed free throws shortly after that would have tied things up told the story of what was to come as not much went right for Huntington the rest of the way.

HU managed just three points over the next four minutes to the delight of the Eagles who racked up an 82-68 advantage with just over a minute to go. Despite the Foresters knocking down four three-pointers in the final 60 seconds, it was too little too late as the game was already too far out of reach. Alford and crew finished with 15 triples on the night, the 14th time this season they’ve hit double-digit three pointers.

Middlesworth and Zach Goodline each poured in 20 points to pace HU while Sparks finished with 18. Peyton West and Ben Humrichous added nine and eight points respectively.

Missed free throws proved lethal for Huntington as they went an unexpected 5-for-12 from the line.

Jalon Perry poured in 31 points to top all scorers. Joining him in double figures for Faulkner was C.J. Hines (21), Trace Hill (15) and Daniel Garmendia (12).

The Foresters finish the year with an overall record of 23-11.