MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington men’s basketball team celebrated their seventh straight win Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena by topping Marian 94-89. After sweeping the Knights last season, HU extended their win streak over MU to three with today’s victory.

Both teams entered the afternoon with identical 2-2 CL records along with MVNU, Spring Arbor and Saint Francis. The Foresters (10-5, 3-2) were the only team out of the bunch to win today as they enjoy fourth place alone in the league standings behind Grace, Bethel and IWU.

The two squads duked it out early in the contest as they played within one or two possessions of each other throughout the opening 12 minutes. All that began to change after Jackson Paul scored five straight points to turn his team’s 24-19 deficit into a 24-24 deadlock, the game’s fourth and final tie, at the 7:01 mark of the first half.

Marian scored on the next possession for their final lead of the day that lasted all of 15 seconds thanks to Drew Goodline’s triple from the wing that put the Foresters on top for good at 27-26. Goodline’s long ball ignited a 10-0 run for a 34-26 difference with three minutes left in the frame.

The next two minutes saw both teams put the ball in the hole three times each with :45 seconds still remaining. A Zach Goodline charge set the stage for the hosts to head into break with the day’s first double-digit disparity. Lane Sparks didn’t disappoint by nailing a three for a 43-32 halftime lead.

Huntington came out of the locker room to open up a 17-point advantage of 56-39 by the 14:54 mark but the Knights weren’t settling for a blowout. While HU wasn’t able to shake their pesky guests, the lead remained in double figures until a pair of Maximus Gizzi free throws with just under three minutes to go finally cut the difference to under ten at 80-71.

Marian (12-3, 2-3) drained three long balls after that to keep things interesting but Huntington kept a healthy distance of at least two possessions the rest of the way to hang on for the win. The loss snapped a Knight string of seven consecutive wins.

Lane Sparks poured in a game-leading 29 points which included going a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. It’s the eighth time this season Sparks has scored at least 20 points.  Zach Goodline put up 27 points in addition to logging five assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Gage McGuire came off the bench to add 12 points while Jackson Paul tossed in ten. Landen Jorden finished with a team-best seven rebounds and collected two blocks which included coming out of nowhere to swat a shot in the final minute of play that brought fans in Platt Arena to their feet.

Gizzi and Josh Bryan poured in 26 and 25 points respectively for the Knights. Gavin Foe took home top rebounding honors with eight.

HU has a tall task on Wednesday when they travel to Winona Lake to face #1 Grace at 7:30 p.m.