HUNTINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — Huntington rode a dominant first quarter to an 82-57 men’s NAIA basketball victory over Rochester Christian on Wednesday at Merillat Complex. The Foresters set the tone early by scoring 41 first-quarter points while limiting the Warriors to 23. Huntington led 41-23 after the opening quarter and stayed in control the rest of the way.

Dustin Farrow opened the game with a jump shot and a free throw for Rochester Christian, and Jerell Taylor and DeAndre Terrell also scored early. Huntington answered with a Landon Biegel jump shot, a Taden Metzger 3-pointer and a Miles Good jumper. Cade Brenner hit a 3-pointer and a jump shot, and Metzger later added four more 3-pointers in the first quarter. Oliver Wilson scored inside and made two free throws, and Max McComb connected from 3-point range. DeAndre Terrell made two free throws and a jump shot in the opening quarter, and Mason Parker made a 3-pointer and two free throws. Daris Sijaric made two free throws, and Lucas Brannen also scored four baskets in the first quarter. Metzger finished with 15 points in 14 minutes, Biegel added nine points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, and Keaton Lawson posted 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and one block in 26 minutes.

Keaton Lawson scored consecutive baskets and made two free throws early in the second quarter for Huntington. Miles Good added a 3-pointer, Treigh Schelsky scored three baskets in the quarter, and Cade Brenner hit another 3-pointer. Rochester Christian received second-quarter baskets from Jerell Taylor, Tre Walker III, Mason Parker, Dustin Farrow, Dominik Wojna, Cooper Boike, Feolami Onabote and Sal Leone. Miles Good finished with 11 points, three rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes, Cade Brenner scored 10 points and had one rebound in 25 minutes, Landon Richmond added three points, six rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes, Treigh Schelsky had eight points, two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes, and Oliver Wilson contributed six points and three rebounds in seven minutes.

Rochester Christian was led by Dustin Farrow, who had 13 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes. Lucas Brannen added nine points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. The Warriors shot 22 of 55 from the floor, 1 of 13 from three-point range and 12 of 24 from the free-throw line. Huntington shot 31 of 71 overall, 10 of 30 from beyond the arc and 10 of 14 at the line. Huntington scored 82 points from 70 possessions and recorded an offensive rating of 117.7. Rochester Christian scored 57 points from 68 possessions and had an offensive rating of 83.3.

Rochester Christian held a 45-41 rebounding advantage, including a 9-9 split on the offensive glass, but committed 11 turnovers and 14 fouls. Huntington had eight assists, two blocks and 24 fouls. Huntington finished with 41 total rebounds and nine offensive rebounds. Rochester Christian scored 34 points after the opening quarter, while Huntington added 41. Huntington improved to 4-1, while Rochester Christian fell to 1-3.

Huntington’s early burst proved decisive. Metzger’s outside shooting stretched the Rochester Christian defense, and Lawson and Biegel helped the Foresters build a lead that the Warriors could not erase. Farrow and Brannen provided scoring for Rochester Christian, but Huntington’s edge from 3-point range and its first-quarter production kept the home side in command. The Foresters also converted 10 of 14 free throws, while the Warriors made 12 of 24. Rochester Christian is next scheduled to host IU Northwest, and Huntington is set to visit Cornerstone.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Huntington 81, Rochester Christian 80. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Huntington with a 91 percent probability to win.