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58
Huntington (Ind.) HU 14-10, 4-8 CL
69
Winner Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 21-3, 11-1 CL
Huntington (Ind.) HU
14-10, 4-8 CL
58
Final
69
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
21-3, 11-1 CL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Huntington (Ind.) HU 21 37 58
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 36 33 69

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Cougars' defense shuts down Huntington in 69-58 win

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Stingy defense and a balanced team effort led the No. 5 ranked Spring Arbor University men's basketball team to a 69-58 win over Huntington University in Crossroads League action Saturday afternoon at the McDonald Athletic Center.

Spring Arbor limited Huntington to one of its lowest scoring outputs of the year on the way to its seventh straight victory. The Cougars, whose current winning streak began at Huntington earlier this month, held HU to 21 points on 23 percent shooting in the first half on their way to building a 15-point lead, and never looked back.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 69, Huntington 58

LOCATION: McDonald Athletic Center | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 21-3 (11-1 CL), Huntington 14-10 (4-8 CL)

 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Defense has been a calling card for Spring Arbor and it was on full display Saturday against Huntington. The Cougars, who rank among the nation's best in scoring defense per game, locked down the Foresters in the first half and limited the visitors to just 21 points on 23 percent shooting, including a 1-for-15 mark from three-point range.
  • Huntington opened the scoring, but a three-pointer from Luke Barber ignited a 10-2 SAU run and Spring Arbor would never trail again.
  • The Cougars led by as many as 15 in the first half, and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second.
  • Huntington continued to battle and trimmed the deficit to eight, 61-53, with 3:44 to play. Spring Arbor responded right away, however, with a layup from Jeff Beckman and a dagger three from Barber put the game away.

 
 

FOR THE COUGARS

  • Barber and Payton DeWildt finished with 15 points and five rebounds each to lead the way for Spring Arbor. Paul Marandet added 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds while Tom Hamilton chipped in seven points and six assists.
  • Spring Arbor shot 49 percent (26-for-53) on the day and was 9-for-21 from three-point range.
  • The Cougars held a 38-29 advantage on the glass and outscored Huntington in the paint 32-22.

 
 

FOR THE FORESTERS

  • Konner Platt scored a team-high 13 points followed by Tyler Arens' 11.
  • Huntington finished the game shooting 34 percent (20-for-59) from the field, including 5-for-24 from behind the three-point line – matching a season-worst.

 
 

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor travels to Indianapolis to take on No. 16 Marian University (19-5, 8-4 CL) on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

 
 

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