CLARION, Pa. - Returning to Tippin Gymnasium for another home PSAC contest, the Clarion men's basketball team fell to the #6 ranked IUP Crimson Hawks 81-47. The loss moves the Golden Eagles to 6-8 overall and 2-7 in the conference, while IUP improves to 15-1 overall and 9-1 in the PSAC. 

The Golden Eagles started the game hot, jumping out to a seven point lead with just under 14 minutes left to play in the first half. 

Connor Ferrell got the scoring started for Clarion making a jumper in transition after picking up a steal. 

Mekhi Reynolds knocked down a jumper to make the score 5-4 in favor of the Crimson Hawks, but it was Ferrell who found a rhythm early, scoring the next eight of ten points for the Blue and Gold, to put Clarion in the lead 14-7. 

IUP managed to gain traction on offense after Dallis Dillard knocked down a three pointer from the wing on a dime from guard Armoni Foster. 

Clarion held the lead midway through the first half as a three pointer from Mason Mraz at the 9:39 mark made the score 19-14 in favor of Clarion. 

Looking for a go to on offense, IUP's Ethan Porterfield used his size in the paint and range from beyond the arc to pull the Crimson Hawks within striking distance.

After a layup from Porterfield tied the game at 19 a piece with just under seven minutes to play, both teams traded baskets back and forth with neither team building a lead larger than three points. 

After the under four minute media timeout, the Crimson Hawks would continue to put their offense together, scoring 15 of the next 17 points in the half to take a commanding 39-26 lead into the locker room.

The Crimson Hawks kept the hot hand to start the second half as they built a lead as large as 36 points on their way to an 81-47 victory. 

For the game Clarion shot 37% from the field and 57% from the charity stripe, while the Crimson Hawks shot 57% from the field and 67% from the free throw line. 

Ferrell paced the way for the Golden Eagles scoring 13 points on 4 of 10 shooting in just 25 minutes of action. Mraz grabbed a team high five rebounds, while Lawrence Lemon added four boards to go along with nine points. 

Porterfield scored a game high 30 points, while Dave Morris dished out 12 assists and grabbed eight rebounds. 

The Golden Eagles will look to rebound against Bloomsburg on January 24th. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 om from Bloomsburg.