Game Notes

CLARION – Off to its best start since 2003, the Clarion University men's basketball team will go for its best beginning in 20 years at 7 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts rival Pitt-Johnstown in a key, early-season contest at Tippin Gym.

 

The Golden Eagles 4-0 start is their best since starting 4-0 in 2003, and Clarion hasn't been 5-0 since starting 11-0 in 1991. Clarion topped Michigan-Dearborn 92-67 Monday at Tippin.

 

Pitt-Johnstown enters the game at 5-1. The Mountain Cats started the year 5-0 before losing 101-90 at Glenville State Saturday. Four of Pitt-Johnstown's wins have come in West Virginia Conference games.

 

A high-scoring game could be in store considering UPJ is averaging 96 points per game and Clarion 91.2 points per contest in the early going. Both teams also shoot the rock well with Clarion shooting 52.5 percent and UPJ 54.5 percent.

 

Clarion has four players averaging in double digits led by 17.8 points per game from senior guard Jamar Harrison, who is adding 6.8 rebounds per contest while dishing out 10 assists and coming away with nine steals. He is shooting 57.4 percent from the field and 83.3 percent (15 of 18) from the line.

 

Senior point guard Lloyd Harrison chips in 15.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest and has 33 assists (8.25 per game) and seven steals. Lloyd hits 54.3 percent of his shoots and 78.6 percent of his free throws.

 

Paul McQueen, a junior forward who was named the PSAC-West Player of the Week Monday, adds 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and has double-doubles in each of Clarion's first two homes games. He is shooting 56.4 percent from the floor and is 6 of 10 from three-point land.

 

Senior sharpshooter Mike Sherry contributes 13.5 points per game with 16 of his 17 made baskets on the year coming from beyond the arc, while Bud Teer adds 9.3 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 10 of 15 (66.7 percent) from the floor and 77.3 percent (17 of 22) from the line. Freshman Mike Kromka also gets into the rotation at 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest.

 

Senior guard Danny Branch leads UPJ averaging 18.8 points per game while hitting 17 three-pointers. Sophomore guard Nick Novak chips in 17.8 points per game, while 6-foot-8, 280-pound junior center Patrick Grubbs scores 16.3 points per game while grabbing 7.0 rebounds per contest. He shoots 68.3 percent (43 of 63) from the floor.

 

Also in double digits for the Mountain Cats are sophomore guard Jordan Miller (13.7 ppg) and freshman forward Bill Luther (11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Miller has hit 18 threes and Luther 15 on the year.

 

NOTES – This is the 44^th meeting between Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown with all of them coming since 1971. The Golden Eagles lead the overall series 32-11, but Pitt-Johnstown has won four of the past six and 10 of the last 18 games against Clarion. Clarion has won four straight at Tippin Gym over the Mountain Cats last losing in 2000 … Clarion's 23^rd year head coach Ron Righter is 16-10 all-time vs. UPJ and won his first-ever game at Clarion over the Mountain Cats, 91-86 in overtime, in Nov. 1988 … Clarion will play its 550^th game at Tippin Gym Saturday when it hosts Penn College at 3 p.m. The Golden Eagles are 388-160 at Tippin since it opened Dec. 4, 1968 including 222-90 under Righter whose 312 games coached at Tippin are the most by a Clarion coach … Righter is 140-36 at home against non-conference opponents and has won 15 of the last 18 non-conference games.