Feb. 17, 2010

Box Score

ERIE - A shorthanded Clarion University men's basketball team suffered its third loss in a row 76-64 at Mercyhurst Wednesday night in PSAC-West men's basketball action.

The Golden Eagles (15-9 overall, 7-4 PSAC-West) played without started Mike Sherry (illness), and had trouble adjusting in the first half shooting just 21.9 percent (7 of 32) in the half while getting down 12, 34-22, at the break.

Clarion rebounded in the second half shooting 50 percent (15 of 30), but Mercyhurst (16-8, 6-5) was even hotter in the half knocking down 60 percent (15 of 25) of its shots to hold the Golden Eagles at bay.

Jamar Harrison led Clarion with 25 points and seven rebounds on 9 of 14 shooting while also going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Lloyd Harrison added 15 points and was the only other Golden Eagle in double digits.

Mercyhurst has three players in double figures led by 17 points and seven rebounds by Shelton Jackson. Christian Cornelius added 14 points and seven boards with Jeremiah Wise chipping 14 points.

Despite the loss, Clarion remains in sole possession of second place in the PSAC-West thanks to Edinboro's 69-60 win over Gannon. The Golden Eagles lead both Gannon and Mercyhurst by one game in the race for a home playoff spot with three games left. Clarion is at Slippery Rock (3 p.m.) Saturday.

NOTES - The Golden Eagles could have clinched a PSAC Playoff spot with a win thanks to IUP's 74-52 win over California ... Clarion can clinch a playoff spot with one win in any of its final three games or a loss in any of the final three games by Cal, Slippery Rock and Edinboro. There are cases where Clarion could lose its final three and one or more of the others could win their final three and the Golden Eagles would still clinch a postseason berth ... Jamar Harrison has now shot 50 percent of better in 10 straight games and has scored in double digits in 10 straight as well and in all but two of Clarion's contests on the year ... Lloyd Harrison extended his double-digit scoring streak to 17 straight games ... The three-game slides ties for the longest losing streak on the year for Clarion. The Golden Eagles also lost three straight in early January ... Jamar Harrison's 25 points tied a season high. He also had 25 vs. Ohio St.-Newark Dec. 12 at the Salem International To.