INDIANA, Pa. --- The Golden Eagles men's basketball team got off to a solid start but saw their advantage slip away, as IUP beat Clarion 84-57 at the Kovalchick Center on Saturday afternoon. Clarion's early lead evaporated late in the first half as the Crimson Hawks pulled away, and IUP rode that momentum to a strong second half and the win.
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Through the first 10 minutes it looked encouraging for the Golden Eagles, who led the Crimson Hawks with eight minutes to play in the first half.
Trey Nelson drained a three-pointer three minutes before that to give his team a 22-17 lead, and
Josiah Dow made it a 24-21 lead a few minutes later. IUP took a 26-24 lead with 7:02 left to go when Christian Moore made a three-pointer, kicking off a 16-2 run for the Crimson Hawks that ended with a dunk by Damir Brooks.
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Clarion pulled closer before the end of the half, with
Gavin Cote making a three-pointer and
Cam Kearney scoring on an old-fashioned three-point play with 15 seconds left to make it 39-32. Tyler Grove scored with eight seconds remaining, setting the halftime deficit at 41-32. Kearney struck early in the second half to make it a six-point game, taking a pass from Nelson and making a three-pointer to make it 41-35, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles got the rest of the way.
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IUP went on a 15-0 run, taking a 56-37 lead after a three from Kymani Merraro. The lead pushed over 20 points, and the Crimson Hawks controlled the action throughout the rest of the half for the win.
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Kearney led the team with 17 points on 5-of-10 scoring, including a 3-of-5 mark from three-point range.
Kendon Peebles came off the bench for 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Dow chipped in nine points.
Jeremy Thomas II led the Golden Eagles with seven rebounds, while Nelson contributed six boards and five assists.
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The Crimson Hawks controlled the boards on Saturday, out-rebounding the Golden Eagles 42-31 and holding a 13-7 edge in second chance points. IUP also valued the basketball well, committing just nine turnovers.
