CLARION, Pa. – Two Clarion seniors went off for big nights in the final home game of the regular season, but the Golden Eagles men's basketball team came up just short in falling 67-65 to Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday in Tippin Gymnasium.  With the loss, Clarion falls to 13-15 overall and 10-12 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play this year.
 
The Golden Eagles will now await the results of the other games remaining on the PSAC schedule; Clarion is off next Wednesday while other teams will still be in action.  Currently in sixth place in the West division, it is possible the Golden Eagles will not know until then if they have clinched a spot in the PSAC Tournament.
 
Andre' Anthony scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including a 3-of-5 mark from three-point range, while Rob Agurs notched his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.  BJ Andrews hit a number of big shots early in the game and finished with 10 points.  Justin Grant provided a boost off the bench with seven points and three rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. 
 
The Mountain Cats held the rebounding advantage 41-34, making up for their deficient 39.4 field goal percentage on the afternoon.  Clarion was also hampered by turnovers, committing 17 comparted to just 13 for UPJ.
 
The seesaw battle came to a head with 4:16 to play, after Akeem Williams sank a pair of free throws to tie the score at 60.  Nate Snodgrass put the Mountain Cats ahead 64-60 with a fast break layup at the 2:21 mark, but Anthony responded with a midrange jumper on the next possession to pull the Golden Eagles to within one possession.  He was fouled on his way to the rim after pulling down a defensive rebound and made both his foul shots to tie the score at 64.
 
Agurs tied the game at 65 with 0:45 left by making one of two free throws, but Snodgrass buried an 18-footer with 2.5 seconds left to put his team ahead 67-65.  Anthony was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer on the next possession as the Mountain Cats stole the road win.
 
Clarion started out the game absolutely ablaze, taking a 30-15 lead in the opening 11 minutes of action against UPJ.  The Golden Eagles began the game on a 12-2 run that was capped by a three-pointer from Anthony, and the lead reached a baker's dozen thanks to a trey from Cameron Grumley at the 12:49 mark.  Andrews sank a three-pointer with 10:23 left to make it 28-15, and Agurs gave Clarion their biggest lead of the night when his two free throws made it 30-15 at the 8:41 mark.
 
The Mountain Cats went on a tear the rest of the half, though, outscoring Clarion 23-5 at one point as Jake Laravie put UPJ ahead 38-35.  Justin Grant tied the score at 38 heading into the halftime break, though, hitting a jumper from the elbow off a pass from Andrews.  Neither team led by more than two possessions the rest of the game.