MEN’S BASKETBALL

Friday afternoon’s contest at the Physical Education Center is one the #RV Huntington men’s basketball team would rather forget. The Foresters were tripped up by Marian by way of an 82-55 road loss.

The win for MU (18-6, 8-6), their fourth straight CL victory, avenges their five-point loss to HU in early January. It’s also Marian’s largest margin of victory over the Foresters since 2006 when they ran away with an 87-55 win.

Gus Etichson set the tone for the Knights by draining a three within 15 seconds of tip-off. MU held the lead throughout with the only exception coming seven minutes in when HU knotted things up at 14-14. Alford and crew managed just eight points over the next 13 minutes to find themselves down 37-22 by halftime.

Things didn’t get much better after intermission as the Foresters, a team that averages over 90 points per game, could never find their groove. The Knights limited Huntington to a season-low 31.1 percent shooting from the floor which included going 2-for-20 from deep. HU managed just 19 field goals on the afternoon, also a season-low, to suffer their worst loss of the year.

Lane Sparks and Zach Goodline were the only two Foresters to reach double figures with 18 and 17 points respectively. Sparks and Drew Goodline each corralled six boards to lead their team in rebounds.

Etchison, who didn’t play in the first game between these two squads, poured in a game-best 22 points. Maximus Gizzi added 19 points while Brody Whitaker tossed in 18. Jackson Ames picked up the game’s only double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

The Foresters (16-8, 9-5) are off until Wednesday when they host #1 Grace at 7:30 p.m.