CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagles led from start to finish to secure their first PSAC win of the 2024-25 season, defeating Mansfield 92-83. Cam Kearney was the driving force for the Clarion offense, scoring a career-high 39 points and finishing with a double-double, securing 11 rebounds.
 
Kearney's scoring output was the highest since the 2021-22 season, when Gerald Jarmon scored 51 points against Edinboro. He is currently third in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 21.2 points per game.
 
Justice Easter and Josiah Dow stepped into the starting lineup for the first time this season and made major contributions in the frontcourt. Easter finished with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Dow added 10 points, stretching the floor with a pair of three-pointers. Trey Nelson continued his consistent play, finishing with 10 points, 5 assists, and a crucial steal.
 
The Golden Eagles came out strong in the first half, shooting an efficient 56.3% from the field and making eight three-pointers. Kearney was particularly effective early on, scoring the first seven points for Clarion.
 
Clarion extended their first-half lead to double digits, going up by 10 with 13:09 remaining after a Kearney three-pointer. The Mountaineers responded with a quick 7-0 run, cutting the Clarion lead to three, but Traden Gray drilled a three off a pick-and-pop play to halt the Mansfield run.
 
The Golden Eagles' first-half lead grew as large as 12 points and never dipped below four. Easter capped the first half with a tough and-one euro-step layup, giving Clarion a 43-34 advantage.
 
In the second half, the Golden Eagles saw Mansfield tighten up defensively, forcing Clarion to shoot just 40.7% from the field and make only 11 field goals. However, Clarion found success at the foul line, making 20 of 25 attempts in the second half, with many of those coming in crucial moments to close the game.
 
Mansfield closed the gap to a one-possession game after an LJ Stanford jumper, who finished leading the Mountaineers in scoring with points. Kearney responded with a 12-2 scoring run, extending the lead back to double digits, including a huge three-pointer in transition off a Nelson steal and assist.
 
As they had all night, the Mountaineers continued to battle back, cutting the deficit to just four points with five minutes remaining after a three-pointer from Jordan Montgomery. Clarion delivered a finishing blow, scoring six straight points, starting with a pair of Gavin Cote free throws, followed by jumpers from Kearney and Nelson to push the lead back to double digits.
 
Clarion sealed the game by scoring 11 of their final 13 points from the charity stripe, missing just three times in the final 1:46. Read Full Article