Box Score

CLARION, Pa. - The Clarion men's basketball team hosted the Gannon Golden Knights Monday night, falling by a final score of 79-65. The loss moves the Golden Eagles to 9-16 on the year, while Gannon improves to 12-12 overall. 

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early five point lead after a Gerald Jarmon layup and a Mason Mraz three pointer from the hand of Steve Kelly in the first few minutes of tipoff action. 

Clarion stretched their lead to 8-0 at the 16:20 mark when Mraz made his second three pointer in as many shots, but Gannon broke the scoring silence with a basket of their own making the score 8-2 in favor of the home team. 

With the Clarion attack starting to find traction, at the 13:51 mark the Golden Eagles took a double digit lead after a pull up jumper from Jarmon found the bottom of the net making the score 16-5. 

Continuing their hot shooting performance Clarion went on a 10-4 run midway through the first half on the back of scoring efforts from Jarmon, Kaison Branch, Jordan Agyemang and Kai Kueper. 

The Gannon attack started to find its footing, pulling back to 32-17, but Agyemang silenced the Golden Knight faithful, throwing down an alley-oop from Branch to stretch the lead to 34-17.

Gannon pulled back within just 10 points with :28 seconds left, but it was again Agyemang and Branch that silenced the thought of a comeback as Agyemang threw down another alley-oop as time expired, taking a 43-31 into the locker room. 

Jarmon led all scorers at the half with 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting in 20 minutes of play, while adding two defensive rebounds. 

The Golden Eagles shot 44% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Clarion managed to grab 24 rebounds compared to Gannon's 19, while the Blue and Gold spent almost 18 minutes with the lead. 

To start the second half, Gannon clawed their way back into the game, taking their first lead of the evening, making the score 52-45 with 13:37 left in the second half. As the visiting team continued to attack, burying a three pointer in transition on the very next possession making the score 55-47, Mraz slowed the Gannon offense making a layup in transition off of an assist from Branch. 

Mraz found success in the corner, making a corner three pointer at the 11:09 mark to make the score 57-52, but after Alonde LeGrand picked the pocket of Mraz, Demetrius Mims elevated and threw down a dunk to make the score 59-52.

Gannon stretched their lead to 10 points at the 9:42 mark, but a pair of free throws from Agyemang made the score 63-55 with just under nine minutes left to play in regulation. 

After Gannon ran the floor in transition, Branch picked up a foul, allowing Lance Amir-Paul three free shots at the line and after three attempts, Amir-Paul went 2 for 3 making the score 68-57. 

Jarmon knocked down a fade away shot at the 6:09 mark to make the score 68-59, but it was Gannon who continued to produce on offense and force steals on defense. 

The Golden Knights continued to find guards and shooters in open space as their ten point lead with 4:52 left in the game loomed over the Clarion attack.

Gannon stretched their lead to 12 points, 74-62, with just over three minutes left to play in the game on a Mims turnaround jumper that found the bottom of the net as the shot clock expired. 

Coming out of the final media timeout, Kelly backed his defender down in the paint, went up and under and made a basket as Clarion trailed just 74-64. 

As time ticked away Gannon continued to keep up the defensive pressure, stalling multiple Clarion attacks and scoring on the offensive end maintaining their double digit lead as the clock ran down inside one minute left to play. 

Clarion forced a turnover with :59 seconds left, but couldn't capitalize as the Golden Knights dribbled the clock out to end the game. 

Jarmon paced the Clarion offense with 30 points, while Mraz added 17 and Agyemang added 12 points.