LOCK HAVEN, Pa - Playing their first game since December 7, the Clarion men's basketball team broke a 43 game road losing streak dating back to the 2015-16 season, powering past PSAC East opponent Lock Haven by a final score of 69-65 Friday night. The Bald Eagles jumped out to an early three-point lead to start the game building a lead as large as seven. Lock Haven took a three point lead heading into the half, 32-29, but the Golden Eagles used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to take command of the game.

Steady guards Kaison Branch and Elijah Cottrill paced the Clarion offense. Branch finished the game with a team-high 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting, while fellow guard Cottrill finished the game with 15 points and some key free throws to ice the game late.

Branch posted his first double-double of the season pulling down 12 rebounds while dishing off two dimes. Making his debut in the Blue and Gold Godspower Ogide played a solid 12 minutes of action grabbing three boards and adding three points.

The Golden Eagles shot 40.0% from the floor, while shooting a hot 42.1% from beyond the arc and shooting an even 50% from the charity stripe.

Lock Haven cut the Clarion lead to one point at 65-64 with just over a minute left in regulation, but that would be as close as they would get in the contest.

Cottrill hit a jumper with 25 seconds left in the game to give Clarion a three point lead, but a free throw from Bald Eagle Nasir Campbell cut the lead to just two. Cottrill hit two free throws with 6 seconds left to put the Golden Eagles up by four and ultimately seal the deal for Head Coach Damian Pitts and team. 

Clarion really spread the scoring around, as freshman Aaron Hilzendeger added nine points and three rebounds, while James Price chipped in eight points, while recording nine rebounds. Jarrod Stukes added a team high five assists and seven points, while Mason Mraz had five points and six boards. Jordan Agyemang and Ogide rounded out an impressive list of scoring, as Agyemang added four points and Ogide added three points respectively on the night.

Clarion will be back in action tomorrow as they head to Mansfield to take on the Mounties at 3 pm.