WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — Clarion (1-1, 0-0 PSAC) secured a 91-82 victory over Wheeling (1-1, 0-0 MEC) in a neutral-site matchup at ASRC on Saturday. Clarion capitalized on free throws, converting 25 of 32 attempts, to outlast the Cardinals' late efforts.
The Golden Eagles opened the first half with an aggressive approach, quickly responding to the Cardinals' early lead.
Kendon Peebles sparked the offense with a three-pointer at 16:50, narrowing the gap to 6-3. Despite some early turnovers,
Justice Easter contributed with a steal and a three-pointer, helping Clarion keep pace.
As the half progressed,
Jeremy Thomas II provided a consistent scoring presence, including a layup at 12:38 and a series of free throws that cut the deficit. Peebles added another three-pointer to keep Clarion within striking distance, while the defense forced crucial turnovers to maintain momentum.
In the closing minutes, Clarion mounted a determined comeback. Thomas's fast-break dunk at 0:58 brought the team within two points. Despite the Cardinals extending their lead with free throws, Easter's layup with 29 seconds left kept the game close. The half concluded with the Golden Eagles trailing 44-40.
Clarion opened the second half with a strong offensive performance. Peebles sank a 3-pointer and
Trey Nelson assisted on multiple key plays, helping the Golden Eagles cut the deficit and eventually take the lead. Clarion maintained the momentum with defensive rebounds by Easter and steals by Peebles, contributing to a scoring surge that extended their lead.
As the half progressed, Clarion capitalized on fast breaks, with Peebles and
Ricky Goode-Wright contributing layups to widen the gap. Clarion's bench added to the score, and the team effectively converted free throws to maintain control in the closing minutes. Clarion closed the half strong, finishing with a 51-point second half performance to lead 91–82 at the end of the game.
Peebles scored a career-high 30 points, hitting 10 of 14 from the field and 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, while also collecting nine rebounds. Easter added 14 points, recorded eight rebounds, and blocked two shots. Nelson contributed with eight assists and six rebounds. Thomas tallied 13 points, converting 7 of 10 free throws, and added two steals.
