CLARION, Pa. - Closing out the 2019-20 season at home inside Tippin Gym, the Clarion Men's Basketball team fell to PSAC West top ranked and nationally ranked IUP  Wednesday night by a final score of 101-49.
 
A season that welcomed a new coaching staff, the loss moves the Golden Eagles to 5-23 on the season and 3-18 in the PSAC West. The Crimson Hawks improve to 24-2 overall and 19-2 in PSAC with one game left to play before the start of the PSAC tournament.
 
Clarion started the game on a high note, proving tough in the paint, with Jordan Agyemang blocking a Chucky Humphries layup in the first possession. Godspower Ogide followed that up with a block of his own the very next IUP possession, blocking a Malik Miller jumper.
 
Elijah Cottrill put the first Clarion points on the board at the 17:54 mark knocking down a contested jumper to pull Clarion back within a three pointer.
 
Trading three's for two's, IUP built a quick commanding lead in the first half, building a 26 point advantage after a Humphries three at the 10:35 mark in the half.
 
Building on the hot hand of Malik Miller, IUP built a lead as large as 35 points before the half closed as, taking a 60-25 lead into the break.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 36% from the field in the first half and 25% from beyond the arc. IUP shot lights out, capitalizing on 20 of 34 (59%) shots from the field and 5 of 12 (61%) from beyond the arc.
 
Clarion started the half with a Kaison Branch layup, but IUP picked up right where they left off in the first half with a Miller jumper building the lead back to 62-27.
 
The Blue and Gold continued to battle though cutting the lead to 69-36 on a Jake Anderson layup, but the Crimson Hawk attack was too blistering to smolder. IUP built a lead as large as 54 points before the final outcome of 101-49.
 
Kass Taylor had a positive impact on the Clarion attack in the second half, putting in solid minutes off of the bench in relief. In 19 minutes of work, Taylor scored a team high 12 points on 3 of 5 shooting, including 2 of 3 from the free throw line, while grabbing two boards and adding two blocks.
 
For the game Clarion shot 28% (17-61) from the field and 79% (11-14) from the charity stripe. On the other side of the ball IUP shot 51% (34-67) from field goal range and 53% (16-30) from beyond the arc.
 
For IUP Miller paved the way with 20 points on 8 of 16 shooting, while grabbing a team high nine rebounds.
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