CLARION, Pa. — Clarion fell to Lake Erie, 85-72, at Coach Cal Court at Tippin Gym on Saturday night. Despite the loss, Clarion [2-2, 0-0 PSAC] was led by a strong defensive effort with four blocks and eight steals against the Storm [4-0, 0-0 G-MAC], but a tough shooting day from beyond the arc proved troublesome for the Golden Eagles.
Clarion opened the first half by taking an early lead with a 6–0 run, highlighted by a dunk from
Jeremy Thomas II at 19:10 and a 3-pointer by
Trey Nelson. The team capitalized on turnovers with six steals, helping to maintain pressure. However, the Storm responded effectively, maintaining a steady scoring pace, particularly from beyond the arc.
Thomas's defensive presence was marked by three blocks, contributing to Clarion's control in the paint. Despite this effort, the Storm managed to outscore Clarion in the paint and on fast breaks. The half concluded with Clarion trailing 42–34, as the Storm held a slight edge heading into the next half.
The second half began with a quick 3-pointer by the Storm to extend their lead. Clarion responded with an effective layup from Thomas, assisted by
Justice Easter. Despite consistent scoring efforts, including a 3-pointer from
Ricky Goode-Wright and a layup by
Kendon Peebles, Clarion struggled to close the gap against the Storm's balanced attack.
The Storm maintained control, leveraging turnovers and capitalizing on fast breaks. Clarion stayed competitive with contributions from Nelson, who added crucial points with a layup and free throw late in the half. The half concluded with Clarion trailing the Storm 85–72, as the Storm slightly outscored Clarion 43–38 in the second half.
Peebles led the team with 13 points, converting 6 of 11 field goal attempts. Nelson contributed with 11 points and added six assists, while also recording three steals. Thomas scored 11 points and recorded two blocks, adding four rebounds to his performance. Easter tallied 10 points and collected four rebounds, with one block and two assists.
