Box Score CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion University men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 65-53 decision to visiting Gannon Saturday night at Tippin Gym.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed 30-27 at halftime and were still down eight, 50-42, when a big six-point swing went Gannon's way.
 
It appeared that Anthony Baker had closed the Golden Eagles within six with a layup and a potential foul at the 5:52 mark, but the close call went against Clarion, and Gannon's Adam Blazek drilled a three-pointer at the other end to take what could have been a five-point game and turn it into a 53-42 Gannon lead. Clarion was never able to get closer than eight the rest of the way despite Gannon hitting just 8 of 14 free throws in the final 3:03.
 
Calvin Edwards led Clarion (5-12 overall, 3-10 PSAC West) with 11 points while adding three assists. Mike Kromka tied a career high with 16 rebounds while also scoring eight points and handing out four helpers. Aaron Johnson had nine points and five rebounds and Leonard Patterson had nine points, three assists and three boards. Evan Battle had eight points and three rebounds with all eight coming before halftime.
 
Darrell Blanton led four Gannon players in double figures with 19 points while adding a team-high nine rebounds. Blazek had 17 points, including 15 in the second half. Oscar Macias added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists with Robert Wilson chipping in 11 points and six boards for the Golden Knights (16-3, 10-3).
 
Clarion returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at California.
 
NOTES – Clarion was called for 21 fouls in the game while Gannon was whistled for nine. That allowed the Golden Knights to hold a 13-2 scoring advantage from the line. Gannon was 13 of 21 while Clarion was 2 of 5 … Clarion's streak of outrebounding opponents came to an end at three, but it was a yeoman's effort from Clarion which was outrebounded just 37-33 against a Gannon team that is second in the PSAC in rebounding margin at +10.7 … Johnson missed a shot late in the second half ending a string of 13 consecutive made shots by the freshman, who last missed a shot Jan. 16 at Mercyhurst. He was 3-for-3 at IUP Jan. 19, 6-for-6 vs. Lock Haven Wednesday and started Saturday 4 of 4 before the miss.