WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The Golden Eagles men's basketball team opened their season on the road against one of the best teams in the nation, competing hard but falling to No. 11 West Liberty 102-91.
Clarion started the game by focusing on defensive stops and capitalizing on turnovers with five steals in the first half. Despite early turnovers, they managed to keep pace with efficient scoring in the paint, notching 18 points.
Aydan Cunningham and
Trey Nelson spearheaded a fast-paced attack, allowing Clarion to cut into the lead multiple times.
While the Golden Eagles showed resilience, the Hilltoppers' outside shooting proved effective, hitting seven 3-pointers. Clarion's defensive rebounds and fast breaks helped stay competitive, but the Hilltoppers maintained their lead throughout the half. The half ended with a score of 54–39 in favor of West Liberty.
The second half commenced with the Golden Eagles attempting to close the gap against the Hilltoppers. Despite an early offensive surge from West Liberty, Clarion responded strongly with
Gavin Cote and
Justice Easter contributing crucial points in the paint, helping to cut into the lead.
Jeremy Thomas II and
Ricky Goode-Wright combined efforts, with Thomas assisting Goode-Wright for a fast-break layup, maintaining momentum and sparking a run that reduced the deficit. Clarion's defensive stops and key steals, including one by Cunningham, helped sustain their scoring efforts.
As the half progressed,
Kendon Peebles and Cote continued to find success from beyond the arc, narrowing the margin further. Despite West Liberty's consistent shooting, Clarion's late half rally, capped by Goode-Wright's three-pointer and fast-break score, ended with a half score of 52-48 in favor of Clarion, bringing the total to 102-91 for the Hilltoppers.
Gavin Cote led the team with 28 points, converting 10 of 21 field goals and five 3-pointers. Goode-Wright contributed 14 points, including three 3-pointers on six attempts. Nelson delivered a strong defensive performance with four steals and added eight assists. Peebles matched Goode-Wright's 14-point effort, hitting two 3-pointers and going 4-for-5 at the free-throw line.
