MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Hitting the road for their first PSAC matchup of the year, the Clarion men's basketball team fell to Millersville 87-54. The loss moves the Golden Eagles to 4-2 on the young season, while the Marauders improve to a perfect 6-0 on the season.
Conner Ferrell and Lawrence Lemon paced the Clarion offense adding 12 points a piece. Ferrell led Clarion in minutes playing 29 total minutes throughout the game. Sophomore Mekhi Reynolds added 11 points on 5 of 11 shooting, while grabbing one rebound and one steal.
Caden Najdawi led Millersville in points and rebounds adding a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Justin Nwosu added a double-double as well, notching 16 points and 10 boards.
Millersville hopped out to an early 14-6 lead at the 14:18 mark after a Najdawi layup was good off of an assist from Jaden Faulkner. Clarion cut the lead to just three points less than a minute later at the 13:44 mark, after scoring four straight points. Lemon picked up a layup and knocked down an and-one free throw for a good old fashioned three point play cutting the lead to 14-11.
Millersville was able to stretch their lead to double digits for the first time with just under two minutes left in the half after a layup made the lead 11 points. With the score 35-24 Ryan Davis knocked down a three off an assist from James Sullivan stretching the lead to 14 points.
The Marauders started the second half with a crowd rising dunk from Najdawi and the momentum shifted almost entirely to the home team.
Clarion was able to cut into the lead after Lemon knocked down a three pointer off of an assist from Kaison Branch after a Ferrell steal that got the Golden Eagles moving in transition. Ferrell added a layup of his own in the very next possession making the score 43-29 in favor of Millersville.
After a Lemon jumper, with the score 54-40 Clarion went on a run mid way through the second half after Ferrell hit a three pointer to make the score 54-43. After a Faulkner turnover, Ferrell found his favorite spot on the floor and added another three pointer to the stat line.
Steve Kelly got in on the scoring party adding a layup at his own at the 11:53 mark cutting the Millersville lead to single digits for the first time since the first half.
From that point on it was all Millersville as they built a lead as big as 33 points and the final score of 87-54.
On the night Clarion shot 36.1% from the field and an impressive 42.9% in the second half. The Golden Eagle also hot an impressive 55.6% from the charity stripe.
The Blue and Gold will return to action tomorrow as the head to Shepherdstown, WV to take on the Rams of Shepherd. The tip-off is slated for 7:30 pm.
