Box Score

CLARION – Bill Weaver's free throw with 2.8 seconds left lifted Mercyhurst to a 61-60 win over Clarion in PSAC-West men's basketball action Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

 

Weaver grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Shelton Jackson three and was fouled by Jamar Harrison. He hit the first free throw before missing the second one. Clarion's Bud Teer grabbed the rebound, and the Golden Eagles called timeout with two seconds to play. But a Hail Mary pass by Paul McQueen was intercepted by Luis Leao at the far baseline ending the game.

 

Mercyhurst (18-3 overall, 9-0 PSAC-West), ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region, rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to get the win.

 

Clarion (13-8, 3-6 PSAC-West) led 42-28 with 16:03 to play but watched Mercyhurst go on a 20-5 run to take a 48-47 lead with 7:52 to play.

 

After that, the game was tied twice and the lead changed hands four times.

 

Clarion led 59-55 with 3:47 to play after back-to-back Lloyd Harrison baskets only to see Mercyhurst score the next five points. The Lakers took the lead on a Weaver layup with 48 seconds to play, but Lloyd Harrison retied the game at 60 when he hit one of two free throws with 40 seconds left.

 

Lloyd Harrison led Clarion with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jamar Harrison added 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals and Bud Teer recorded his 12^th double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds while also blocking three shots.

 

Shelton Jackson led Mercyhurst with 20 points and six rebounds. Heiden Ratner, the PSAC's leading scorer at 20.8 ppg, was held to 11 points and Weaver added 10 points and seven rebounds.  

 

Despite the loss, Clarion remains just a game out of a PSAC Playoff spot after California lost to IUP Wednesday night.

 

The Golden Eagles return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday at Edinboro.

 

NOTES –Weaver's free throw at the end gave Mercyhurst their 25^th second-chance point of the game. The Lakers outscored Clarion 25-7 in second-chance points … Clarion has lost three games in the final five seconds this season including a pair of PSAC-West contests all on offensive rebounds by the opponent … Teer's 12 double-doubles are the most by a Golden Eagle since Marvin Wells at 13 in 1998 … Jamar Harrison has scored in double digits in 36 straight games.