CLARION, Pa., -  The Clarion University men's basketball team lost at home Saturday evening to Pitt-Johnstown by a final score of 79-86.  The loss moves the Blue and Gold to 5-15 overall (3-12 PSAC).  The Golden Eagles return to action on Wednesday when they head to Greensburg to take on Seton Hill.  

Manny Powell led the way for the Blue and Gold on offense, finishing with a team-high 17 points as well as a team-high three assists.  BJ Andrews led the team in rebounds with eight to go with his ten points, while Jamani Pierce finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.  The Golden Eagles shot 24-59 (40.7%) from the field, including 5-19 (26.3%) from beyond the three-point arc.  

The first and second halves played out like mirror images of one another, with Clarion keeping pace and staying within striking distance for 20 minutes but not being able to get the extra push needed to take a lead in the end.  The Golden Eagles started the first with points on successive possessions courtesy of Cam Grumley, Manny Powell, and Jamal Bailey to tie-things at six apiece.  The Panthers  struck back with a series of big three-pointers to widen their lead to ten points, eventually holding on to a 42-31 edge at the half. 

And though Clarion would have its chances in the second, they could not overcome the rebounding advantage of UPJ in the paint to seal the deal.  The Panthers out-boarded the Golden Eagles 19-16 in the second-half, including 14 points in the paint.

Clarion snagged a one-point lead courtesy of a Manny Powell jumper with just over nine minutes remaining, the above mentioned Panthers and their presence in the paint proved to be teh deciding factor as CU dropped another game at home.