MEN’S BASKETBALL

The (RV) Huntington men’s basketball team came up short on the road Wednesday night, falling 78–59 to top-ranked Grace College inside the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The loss drops HU to 7–3 overall and 1–2 in Crossroads League play, while the unbeaten Lancers improve to 9–0 and 3–0 in the conference. It also marks the first time this season the Foresters have been held under 60 points.

HU opened the night with purpose, scoring on its first possession thanks to a Kaden Johnson traditional three-point play, the first of the Foresters’ two leads of the evening. The second came midway through the first half when Cade Brenner connected from deep to push HU in front 11–10. Huntington also forced three ties as both defenses dictated the early pace, but Grace closed the half with enough momentum to take a 31–25 advantage into the locker room.

What had been a tight defensive battle through the first 20 minutes quickly shifted in the early stages of the second half. Grace erupted on a 15–4 run in the first five minutes to stretch the margin to 46–29, and the deficit remained in double figures the rest of the way. The Lancers relied on their depth and efficiency, outscoring HU 37–15 off the bench, shooting 51.6 percent (32-for-62) from the field and controlling the glass 46–28.

Jackson Paul was a bright spot for the Foresters, finishing with a team-high 20 points, his second 20+ outing of the season. Johnson finished with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds, while Matthew Spears and Landon Biegel added seven points apiece.

Grace showcased impressive balance with five players in double figures, led by Michael Wellman’s 12 points off the bench. Ian Raasch, Tyler Raasch and Gage Sefton each added 10, while Grady Carpenter played the role of facilitator with 13 assists to go along with five boards.

HU now turns its attention to another top-10 opponent as they return to Platt Arena on Saturday to host #6 Indiana Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m.