HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Senior forward Kaden Johnson had 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead Huntington University to an 82-71 win over the University of Pikeville in the opening game of the Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic on Friday.
 
The game featured a pair of teams that played in the second round of the NAIA national tournament last season.
 
The Foresters shot 55.2 percent overall and 31.6 percent on three-point shots, while the Bears hit only 37.3 percent overall and 4 of 22 from outside.
 
Even hitting 23 of their 25 free throw tries wasn't enough, as the Bears fell to 1-1 on the season.
 
The teams played even through the first 10 minutes, with Huntington taking a 23-20 lead with 9:53 left in the half when senior Keylane Lasisi hit a jumper.
 
From there, the Bears had the games' first prolonged run, scoring the next 12 points. It began with a three to tie the score by senior Bradley Bunch, followed by five straight by junior Robby Todd. Jumpers by sophomore Peyton Byrd and freshman Jace Copley put the Bears in front 32-23 with 5:44 left in the half.
 
But the Foresters immediately answered with a 15-2 run. Senior Matthew Spears was the key, scoring seven in the stretch that saw Huntington shoot 6 for 8 and make all three three-pointers.
 
Spears had 15 points and five rebounds.
 
When it ended, the hosts had a 38-34 lead with less than a minute left. A Bunch three cut the deficit to one, 38-37, which was the score at the half.
 
Huntington (4-1), however, pulled away with the first seven points of the second half. Johnson had the first five, and when Lasisi had a dunk, the lead was out to 45-37 with 17:34 left.
 
UPike got within six four times over the next seven minutes, including at 9:45 when senior Zion Blevins sank a jumper to make the score 59-53, but would get no closer.
 
Blevins led three Bears in double digits with 13, and also paced them with eight rebounds. Bunch followed with 11, while Keynan Cutlip had 10.
 
Two other Bears, Todd and LA Walker, scored nine each.
 
UPike will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, wrapping up its participation in the Hall of Fame Classic against Florida Memorial University.