MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington men’s basketball team fell victim to the Marian Knights, 87-69, Saturday afternoon at the PE Center in a Crossroads League matchup that extended the hosts’ win streak to eight.

The loss drops HU to 13-5 overall, 2-4 in league play, while MU improves to 12-2 overall and 4-2 in CL action which leaves them tied for third in the conference standings.

After several ties through the first ten minutes of play, the Knight eventually took a ten-point cushion of 43-33 into intermission behind a pair of senior guards in Christian Harvey and Tyrie Johnson who tossed in ten and nine points respectively. The two combined to go 9-for-12 from the field to lead an efficient MU offense that committed just five miscues for the half while shooting 61.3 percent from the floor.

Caleb Middlesworth, who poured in 14 points in the opening 20 minutes, continued his hot hand by draining two threes in the first two minutes of the second half to pull Alford’s crew within six at 45-39. Nearly five minutes later, the Foresters had evened things up for a third time at 50-50.

Unfortunately, Mitchell Wilson’s three at the ten-minute mark was HU’s only score over the next seven minutes which allowed Marian to pile up a comfortable lead of 71-53 with 7:35 remaining. The advantage proved too hefty as 15 points was as close as things would get the rest of the way.

Marian sizzled the nets to the tune of 58.7 percent (37-for-63) which included knocking down ten of their 20 three-pointers. Huntington carded a 42.6 percent shooting performance (26-for-61) which included going 8-for-21 from long range. Both teams took care of the ball with MU committing eight TOs to HU’s nine.

Middlesworth missed just three shots on the afternoon to finish with a season- and game-high 22 points. He also corralled a game-tying seven rebounds along with Peyton West and Marian’s Luke Gohmann. Zach Goodline also finished in double figures for HU with 13 in addition to handing out five dimes.

The Knights were paced by Jacob Wiley’s 17 points. Hayden Langkabel came off the bench to chip in 16 while Harvey and Malek Edmonds each pitched in 14 and Johnson finished with 11.

HU returns to Platt Arena on Tuesday to host #9 IWU, the only undefeated team in league play.