HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team bounced back from back-to-back losses to hand No. 21 Huntington University its first conference loss of the season, defeating the Foresters 78-66 on Tuesday night inside Platt Arena.
The Cougars shot 52 percent (27-for-52) from the field and knocked down a season-best nine three-pointers in the victory. Four players scored in double figures, including junior Greg Hamilton and senior Tyler Hughes, who posted season-highs with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Spring Arbor opened the game on an 8-2 run, but Huntington (9-2, 1-1 Crossroads League) would use a run of its own to take its first, and only, lead of the night, 20-19, at the 10:25 mark. However, freshman Drew Zuidema answered immediately on the other end with a triple to put the Cougars in front for good. A bucket from Hughes in the closing seconds of the half would increase the margin to seven, 39-32, at the break.
In the second half, and early 9-2 run pushed the Cougar advantage to double digits. Freshman Zach Medendorp sank a pair of free throws with 7:57 remaining to give SAU its largest lead of the contest, 67-51.
The Foresters would make one last push, hitting four of their next six shots, including two three-pointers, to help narrow the gap to seven, 71-64, with just over a minute left on the clock. Hamilton would make four straight free throws, though, to help seal the win for the Cougars.
Hamilton added seven assists and three rebounds while Hughes came up one rebound shy of a double-double after matching his career-high with nine boards. Sophomore Caleb Hogans finished with 14 points and sophomore Thomas Starks chipped in 13 with seven rebounds. Zuidema also recorded a career-high nine points, hitting three three-pointers.
Spring Arbor (7-2, 1-1 Crossroads League) will begin a five-game homestand when it hosts No. 6 Bethel College (10-1, 1-1 Crossroads League) on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.
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