JOLIET, Ill. - The University of St. Francis men's basketball team returned to the Sullivan Center this Saturday (Dec. 19) afternoon to claim an 85-76 victory over Huntington University after overcoming a six-point deficit at halftime.
The win improves USF's record to 5-2 and gives the Saints their fourth home victory this season. The Saints handed the foresters their third loss of the season as their record falls to 8-3 overall.
Huntington got off to a quick start, a three-point field goal from Caleb Middlesworth would give the Foresters a 14-point edge with 14:02 left to go in the first half. This would be the largest lead for Huntington as the Saints would claw attempt to fight their way back into the game. A three-point field goal from Carter Fayhee (Jr/Macomb, Ill) would cut the lead to only for as the Saints were down 36-32 with 5:40 left in the first half. Both teams continued to battle for the lead. Forward Deandre Johnson (Sr/Watts, Calif) would convert an and-one to with 29 seconds left in the first half and give Huntington a six-point halftime lead. The Saints closed the half shooting 50% (16-32) from the floor, 4-11 (36%) from the three-point, and shot 71% (5-7) from the free-throw line. Huntington led the game for the majority of the first half, converting 59% (19-32) from the floor and 53% (7-13) from the three-point line.
USF continued to keep the game close to open the second half courtesy of excellent work in the paint from forward Lewis Holey (Sr/Sydney, Australia) who opened the half with three straight field-goals. The Saints would eventually go on to tie the game up with 10:44 left after a layup from E.J Charles (SO/Mokena, Ill) would put both teams even at 55. Both teams would go back and forth until, forward Aitor Anabitarte (Fr/Lasarte-Oria, Spain) converted an and-one to give the Saints a 71-67 lead with 5:50 left to go in the second half. Momentum was now on the Saint's side as clutch free-throw shooting and efficient defense helped carry the Saints to the victory.
Aniabitarte and Eric Ting (Sr/Taoyuan, Taiwan) would both lead the Saints in scoring as both players tallied 15 points. Guard Carlos Tovias (Corsicana, TX) would join them in double figures. Tovias scored 14 points off the bench and knocked down a team-high four three-point field goals. E.J Charles was the fourth Saint in double figures this afternoon. Charles finished the game with 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Saints finished the game shooting 46% (28-60) from the floor and 7-18 (38%) from beyond the arch. The Saints took advantage of the second half foul trouble from the foresters and finished the game shooting 75% (22-29) from the free-throw line.
Caleb Middlesworth led the game with 29 points and shot 7-11 (64%) from beyond the arch. Despite the sharp shooting from the Foresters in the first half, they would finish the game shooting 50% (29-57) from the field and 10-24 (41.7%) from beyond the arch. The Saints outscored Huntington 44-29 in the second half and outrebounded the Foresters 34-30. The Saints bench tallied 50 of the Saints 85 points compared to Huntington's 14 points.
Up Next
The Saints head to Chicago, Illinois this Tuesday (Dec.12) to take on Loyola University in an exhibition matchup. This is the Saints first game against the Ramblers since 2009 where USF fell to Loyola 63-46. A 12 p.m (CT) tip-off is scheduled at Loyola's Joseph J. Gentile Center.
