Box Score
GOSHEN, Ind. – Host Huntington University proved why they returned to the latest NAIA DII Top25 Poll as they knocked of the Goshen College men's basketball team 89-71 Wednesday night in Huntington.
After two weeks outside the rankings, the Forresters returned to #25 and then kept their Mid-Central Conference regular-season title hopes alive by winning their fifth straight. For the third time this season, the Maple Leafs received votes in the poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon.
Goshen did get off to a fast start, leading by as much as six points early in the first half. Senior Brice Hartman broke a 4-4 tie with a 3-pointer off a dish out from Nate West Jr. and added a lay up shortly after to give the Maple Leafs a five-point advantage.
After a pair of baskets by the Forresters, Errick McCollum responded with his own jumper immediately followed by a long ball to push Goshen's lead to six at 8-14. The Forresters would then go on a 19-8 run, hitting 7-of-8 from the field in that stretch to open up a 27-22 lead.
"We ran into a buzz-saw tonight," commented Goshen Head Coach Gary Chupp. "Give Huntington credit, they shot the ball extremely well, and it seemed like we were on our heels all night."
After a Kyle Laker lay up to bring the Maple Leafs within three, Huntington would take advantage of Goshen miscues and stretch their lead to as many as fourteen in the half, which equaled the number of points they scored off Maple Leaf turnovers in the half.
Huntington started the second half by hitting their first four shots, including a pair of 3-pointers. Hartman and McCullum kept Goshen close as they each hit from behind the arch in that same stretch.
"I was a little disappointed with our ball pressure to start the second half - they hit some deep threes, but they wouldn't have gotten those shots off if we were pressuring the ball like we talked about at halftime," explained Chupp.
The lead expanded to twenty as the Maple Leafs went cold from the field, missing six straight shots. Goshen quickly recovered as free throws and a pair of field goals by West and McCollum brought the Maple Leafs back within thirteen.
However, a pair of 3-pointers by the Forresters late in the game put away the contest. McCollum's 22 points led all scorers. Nate West had a solid all-around night as he tallied 15 points and 15 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass.
Kyle Benge led five Forresters in double-digits with 21 points as Huntington shot 52% from the field and 58% from 3-point territory.
Goshen looks to rebound as they travel to Marian College for a 3 p.m. tip off on Saturday. A win would go a long way in MCC Conference Tournament, which starts next Wednesday.
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