Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score

CLARION - Four players scored in double figures to lift Clarion to its first PSAC-West win of the year 70-51 over visiting Gannon in the Golden Eagles home PSAC-West opener Saturday afternoon at Tippin Gym.

Lloyd Harrison's balanced line of 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists paced Clarion, while Shameel Carty had 15 points, four rebounds and four steals off the bench. Paul McQueen (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) and Jamar Harrison (12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) also reached double digits for the Golden Eagles (9-6 overall, 1-1 PSAC-West).

That balance helped offset a game-high 26 points by Gannon's George Johnson, who was 10 of 17 shooting including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. He added seven rebounds. But only one other Golden Knight joined Johnson in double figures with Danard Crouch scoring 11 points off the bench for Gannon (6-8, 1-1).

Clarion used an 18-3 run in the first half to build a 17-point lead, 38-21, with 1:53 left in the half and took a 38-23 lead into halftime. Lloyd Harrison was a real key to the first half for the Golden Eagles hitting his first four shots on his way to a 10-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist effort in the half.

After halftime, Clarion used a 12-2 run to push the lead to 20, 46-26, just over four minutes into the half.

Gannon tried to make a run, but could close to no closer than 13, 57-44, with 8:45 to play before the Golden Eagles used a 8-0 spurt, with all the points coming from the free-throw line, to get the lead to 21, 65-44, with 4:45 to play. That lead then grew to 23 before Gannon ended the game on a 4-0 run.

NOTES - Clarion outscored Gannon 23-13 off turnovers, 26-18 in the paint, 26-13 in bench points and 9-5 in second-chance points ... The Golden Eagles shot 50 percent (25 of 50) for the game, the fifth time this year they have made at least half their shots but the first time since shooting 56.2 percent Dec. 12 in a 117-64 win over Ohio St.-Newark ... Clarion had 10 steals in the game, the 10th time this season they have had at least 10 swipes and the third time in their last four games ... Gannon led just once in the game, 2-0 ... Clarion improved to 12-10 in PSAC-West home openers under 22nd year head coach Ron Righter ... The Golden Eagles are 6-1 on the season at Tippin Gym and 226-88 at home under Righter ... The win broke a 4-game PSAC-West losing streak dating back to last season ... The 19-point victory was the largest for Clarion vs. a PSAC-West opponent since beating Lock Haven 81-58 at Lock Haven Feb. 20, 2008, and the largest at home vs. a PSAC-West opponent since a beating Lock Haven 83-57 Jan. 19, 2005 ... The 51 points allowed were the second fewest surrendered by the Golden Eagles this season the fewest allowed to an NCAA Division II team since beating Millersville 53-51 Dec. 20, 2005. They were also the fewest points yielded to a PSAC-West opponent since winning at Cal 72-49 Feb. 19, 2005, and the fewest allowed to a PSAC-West opponent at home since beating Cal 62-50 Jan. 29, 2005 ... Clarion's 16 assists were the most since having 16 in a win over Waynesburg Dec. 30 ... The victory broke a 6-game losing streak to Gannon that dated back to the Golden Knights pre-PSAC-West days. Clarion last beat the Golden Knights 64-59 Dec. 12, 1992.