MEN’S BASKETBALL

Execution down the stretch favored the Goshen College Maple Leafs in a Crossroads League clash that saw the HU men’s basketball team take one on the chin, 63-62, at Ruth Gunden Gymnasium. The loss snapped a seven-game win streak the Foresters held over GC.

While the contest featured multiple lead changes and a handful of ties, things seemed to be falling into place for Huntington as the evening wore on. Over a five-minute stretch, Caleb Middlesworth and Zach Goodline put the team on their backs. The pair scored all 12 of HU’s points that turned a 56-50 deficit into a 62-58 advantage with :30 ticks remaining.

But the Maple Leafs didn’t let a late four-point discrepancy derail their intentions. A quick three by Ryan Mansbarger, who proved HU’s adversary all night, pulled the hosts within one.

Goshen (6-15, 2-7) immediately fouled to send their guests to the line, and it paid off as Huntington missed the front end of a one-and-one to set the stage for a Greg Johnson game-winner. The 6-2 freshman got the ball deep in the paint for an easy lay-in and a 63-62 lead that stuck with :06 seconds remaining as the Foresters’ shot at the buzzer was well off the mark.

Poor shooting and an uncharacteristic number of mistakes were Huntington’s offenders. The Foresters recorded their lowest field goal percentage of the season (25-for-62 for 40.3 percent) which included hitting just four threes, also a season-low, while committing 18 turnovers, seven over their season average.

Goodline finished with a game-best 20 points to go along with six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Middlesworth added 15 points, nine boards and two steals. Ben Humrichous rounded out HU’s double-digit scoring with 12 points. He also corralled six rebounds and swiped three steals.

The Foresters forced 21 TOs, 17 of which were steals, and outrebounded their hosts 38-29 which included tracking down 18 of their own misses to Goshen’s 24 defensive boards.

Goshen was paced by Mansbarger’s 17 points. Clayton MacLagan chipped in ten while three other Maple Leafs scored at least eight points.

HU’s record stands at 14-7 overall which includes a 3-6 league record. Huntington hits the road again on Saturday to face Taylor at 3:00 p.m.