ELKINS, WV – Clarion freshman Aaron Hilzendeger scored a career high 21 points and grabbed six rebounds, while dishing off six assists, but the Golden Eagles were unable to hold an early lead, falling on the road to Davis & Elkins College on Saturday, 89-75.

Clarion (0-3) was leading 11-10 with 15:02 remaining in the first half, but the offense of the Senators was to potent as they regained the lead 13-11 and never looked back from that point on.  

Hilzendeger had the hot hand to start the game burying two 3 pointers, back-to-back and finding Elijah Cottrill for another to help Clarion grab the early lead. Cottrill scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half, grabbing three rebounds and passing off another three assists on the game to help lead the Golden Eagle charge. Off of the bench, Stevan Rodriguez added 14 points on the evening, adding three rebounds to his stat line in just 22 minutes of action.
 
The Golden Eagles shot an impressive 58.3% from the floor in the first half, and an immaculate 50% from the field for the entire game. The Blue & Gold ended the first half on a positive note with Kaison Branch knocking down a jumper off of an assist from Hilzendeger in the last seconds to head into the locker room trailing 44-40.
 
However, Clarion had no answer for D&E's senior guard Donte Doleman, who scored a team high 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting, while grabbing two rebounds and passed off four assists. A balanced offensive attack, the Senators had five players that scored in double digits, shooting 52.4% on the night.

Although the battle on the boards was even at 32 a piece, the turnover column proved to be the difference in the game with Clarion committing 16 turnovers and Davis & Elkins capitalizing on those mishaps scoring 23 points off turnovers.

Hilzendeger led Clarion with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting, Cottrill added 17 points, while Rodriguez added 14 points off of the bench.
 
Clarion will host their home opener in Tippin Gym next Saturday, November 23 when they take on Kutztown at 3 pm.