SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University men's basketball team defeated Huntington University 69-64 on Tuesday night inside the SAU Fieldhouse thanks to a balanced attack that saw four Cougars score in double figures.
Junior Greg Hamilton led the way with a game-high 19 points while senior Tyler Hughes posted his first double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The win snapped an eight game skid and moved the Cougars to 11-12 overall and 2-9 in the Crossroads League. Meanwhile, the Foresters slipped to 13-10 on the year and 3-8 in the conference.
It was an ominous start to the evening for Spring Arbor, quickly falling behind 7-0, and trailing by as many as nine, 19-10, late in the half. However, senior Collin Hewitt knocked down a three-pointer to spark the offense. The defense also stepped up, limiting Huntington to just one field goal over the final 6:24 of the period. The outstanding play on the defensive end allowed the Cougars to close out the half on an 11-5 run and narrow the deficit to two, 26-24, at the break.
The Foresters refused to surrender their lead early in the second half, answering every Cougar basket. After a pair of free throws from Zach Medendorp got SAU within one, 37-36, at the 15:55 mark, Jimmy Kodet drained a triple to give SAU its first lead of the night. Hamilton would add two more freebies before Kodet capped the 9-0 run with a thunderous dunk to ignite the home crowd.
Huntington trimmed SAU's lead to one, 43-42, with 11:55 remaining, but the Cougars would respond with seven straight points to regain a comfortable cushion.
The Forester made one last push, getting within three, 56-53, with less than three minutes to play. Hamilton would bury a deep three, however, to start an 8-2 scoring spurt to put the game away.
Spring Arbor shot 41 percent (23-for-56) from the field and 85 percent (17-for-20) from the charity stripe while Huntington hit 39 percent (23-for-59) of its shots and just 62 percent (13-for-21) from the free throw line. The Cougars were out-rebounded in the game, but played outstanding defense converting 14 HU turnovers into 21 points.
Kodet finished with 12 points and two steals while Caleb Hogans recorded 11 points, three assists and three steals.
Up next, the Cougars will travel to Mishawaka, Indiana to face off against No. 8 Bethel College on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.
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