MEN’S BASKETBALL

The #12 Huntington men’s basketball team got back in the win column Saturday afternoon by topping Mount Vernon 82-71 inside of Platt Arena. With this win, Alford and crew not only move to 9-2 overall, 2-2 in league play, but also snap a two-game losing skid.

After a first half  where no more than two possessions separated the two squads, it was Lane Sparks’ rampage to start the second half that gave Huntington some breathing room and what proved a permanent lead with 17 minutes to go.

The 6-3 senior guard scored eight straight points, six from deep, to turn HU’s 42-42 tie with the Cougars into a 50-42 disparity. Back-to-back dunks by Landen Jordan a few minutes later pushed the lead to double figures for the first time at 58-47 with 13:48 remaining.

After that it was a slow six-minute burn for Mount Vernon to trim the lead down to two points, 68-66, but Sparks and Jordan made sure to cut their comeback short. Each scored twice, piecing together an 8-1 run, to up the gap to nine at 76-67 with just under three minutes left.

Time was on their side at that point with clock management and a few trips to the free throw line the keys to securing the win.

Sparks did a little bit of everything for Huntington to finish with 30 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jordan posted a double double of 20 points and ten rebounds. He also registered two blocks and two steals. Maximus Gizzi rounded out HU’s double digit scoring with 14.

The Cougars were paced by Trent Koning’s 20 points. Bailey Conrad and Peyton Heiss added 14 and 12 points respectively.

The Foresters have dominated the series between these two schools as of late with today’s win their sixth straight over MVNU (5-5, 1-3). HU heads to the Sunshine State next week to take on New College of Florida on Saturday and Ave Maria on Monday.