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Zach Goodline’s patented step-back three with five seconds remaining proved the game-winner in Huntington’s 60-59 upset over #6 Indiana Wesleyan inside Platt Arena Wednesday night. It’s the Foresters’ second consecutive win over a Top-10 opponent.

It was not the type of game that either side is accustomed to. Both squads can put up a lot of points but on this given night, offense did not come easy. Fifty-nine points matched a season-low for the Wildcats who came into the contest averaging 79.5 ppg.

Sixty points is a season-low for the Foresters who are averaging nearly 88 points a game. The last time an HU squad scored fewer points was a 54-50 loss to Shawnee State in the pre-Alford days back in 2019.

Despite a low-scoring affair, fans who braved the weather still got their money’s worth. While the Wildcats held the lead more often than not throughout the first frame, things were deadlocked at 27-27 by halftime. A chance to regroup served the guests well as they came out of the locker room on a mission.

IWU ripped off 15 of the first 17 points of the second half to jet in front 42-29 by the 14:11 mark. But an unassuming freshman in Henry Ihrig gave his team new life when he drained a pair of freebies and then picked off a pass at midcourt for an easy lay-in.

Landen Jordan’s dunk at the halfway mark made it a six point contest at 45-39 and a triple by Lane Sparks two minutes later cut Huntington’s deficit to a single possession at 49-46. IWU’s lead ventured up to as many as five over the next few minutes but another dunk by Jordan with just over two minutes to go trimmed it to three at 58-55.

The final two minutes was riddled with multiple timeouts, several missed shots and a handful of trips to the free throw line to make for a 59-57 IWU lead that set the stage for Goodline’s heroics with just a few ticks remaining.

Goodline, who gave his team their only lead of the second half, finished with 12 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sparks tossed in 16 points while Ben Humrichous added 13. Jordan finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Javan Buchanan poured in 17 points to lead Wesleyan. Griffin Kliewer turned in a double double of 16 points and 14 rebounds while Seth Maxwell posted 12 points and ten boards for a second IWU double double.

With six regular season games remaining, HU (16-6) is third in the league standings with an 8-4 record, one game behind Grace and two games out of first. Indiana Wesleyan (16-6) remains on top in the conference with a 10-2 record.

Huntington tips off with Bethel on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with hopes of avenging their six-point loss to the Pilots earlier this month.