MEN’S BASKETBALL

The #RV Huntington men’s basketball team showcased remarkable depth and perimeter efficiency Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena, knocking down 16 three-pointers in a 93–68 victory over Great Lakes Christian to wrap up the annual Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic.

With all 14 Foresters seeing action and 12 putting points on the board, Huntington (4–1) pulled away for its largest margin of victory of the young season. The win marked Head Coach Jared Jauch’s first career meeting against Great Lakes Christian (3–3).

Great Lakes Christian hung tough early, capitalizing on interior touches to match the Foresters bucket-for-bucket through the opening 12 minutes. The Crusaders drew even at 19–19 following a Rael Cochran jumper at the 8:19 mark. However, the game’s defining turning point unfolded in a flash. Landon Biegel ignited a game-changing 11–0 surge by burying a three-pointer at the 7:18 mark, followed by back-to-back triples from Cade Brenner in less than 60 seconds to push HU ahead 30–19. Taden Metzger added a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the final seconds of the half to send Huntington into the locker room with a 44–33 lead.

The Foresters put on a shooting clinic out of intermission, draining 10 of their 20 three-point attempts in the second half. Brenner and Biegel combined for five second-half triples to stretch the advantage past 20. Midway through the half, sophomore Wyatt Zepp caught fire off the bench, sinking three long-range shots – including a triple at the 6:32 mark that extended HU’s lead to its widest point at 34 (85–51). Junior guard Trevor Daughtry capped the high-scoring performance with a late three-pointer to lock up the 25-point win.

Huntington connected on 45.8% (33-of-72) from the field, 41.0% (16-of-39) from beyond the arc, and dominated the boards 48–36 while dishing out 23 assists on 33 made baskets. Brenner and Biegel led the scoring attack with 14 points apiece, both shooting 4-of-6 from deep. Brenner also added three rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Keaton Lawson reached double figures with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Zepp finished with nine points off the bench. Miles Good orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out a game-high 10 assists to go with eight points, six rebounds, and two steals. Freshman Landon Richmond anchored the glass with a team-high eight rebounds alongside six points, while Treigh Schelsky and Stephen Akase chipped in six rebounds apiece.

Great Lakes Christian was led by Cochran’s game-high 18 points, while Teon Armstrong added 14 points. Ja’Torian Smith pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Crusaders.

UP NEXT
Huntington returns to Platt Arena on Wednesday to host Rochester Christian University at 7:00 p.m.