HU Pads Resume with Upset of No. 10 Bethel

HUNTINGTON, Ind. - The #RV Huntington men's basketball team added another statement win to an already eye-catching résumé Saturday afternoon, edging #10 Bethel, 82–80, for its second Top-10 victory in a week. One week after stunning #1 Grace in overtime, the Foresters knocked off their seventh Top-20 opponent of the season.

The win evens the regular-season series with the Pilots and lifts HU to 18–6 overall and 9–5 in Crossroads League play, while Bethel slips to 20–4 (10–4 CL).

Bethel threw everything it had at senior center Kaden Johnson early, sending double and triple teams his way from the opening tip. Huntington calmly adjusted, leaning into its perimeter shooting to seize control just two-and-a-half minutes in—and never trail again.

Miles Good jump-started the offense with back-to-back triples to put HU up 10–6 at the 16:47 mark, and the Foresters kept their foot on the gas. Huntington's barrage from deep ballooned the lead to as many as 16 in the first half, capped by Cade Brenner's third three to make it 36–20 with seven minutes remaining.

HU torched the nets at an 8-for-12 clip from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes and carried a 45–33 advantage into the locker room.

As expected, Bethel pushed back - and Johnson reminded everyone why game plans don't keep great players quiet for long. After being limited to just two points before halftime, the 6-11 senior erupted for 16 second-half points, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to anchor the upset.

When Bethel trimmed the deficit to 62–58 midway through the second half, Brenner delivered the dagger sequence - two clutch threes sandwiched around a Johnson bucket to stretch the margin back to double digits at 70–60.

To be expected by one of the nation's top teams, the Pilots refused to fold. With under a minute remaining, Bethel clawed within three, forcing the game to the free-throw line. Johnson split a pair to make it a two-possession game, but the drama wasn't done.

With HU clinging to a two-point lead and 10 seconds left, Jackson Paul stepped to the stripe and, cool as ever, knocked down both free throws. Good sealed it moments later, calmly sinking two more with under three seconds remaining to fend off Bethel's final charge.

Huntington finished the day shooting 51.8% from the field, 52.4% from three, and won the rebounding battle 40–34, while dishing out 15 assists in another complete performance inside Platt Arena.

Good posted 16 points, Brenner added 15 on five triples. Paul chipped in 15 points and five assists, while Keylane Lasisi recorded a gritty eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

For Bethel, Alonas Peciulis paced the Pilots with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Austin Cripe poured in 17 points on five threes, and Luke McBride added 13 points.

Huntington returns to action Wednesday night, traveling to Goshen for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with the Maple Leafs.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.