WEST CHESTER, Pa. — In a thrilling showdown at Hollinger Field House, the Clarion Golden Eagles (7-5, 2-2 PSAC) surged past the West Chester Golden Rams (7-3, 1-2 PSAC) with a hard-fought 96-90 victory on Sunday. The Golden Eagles' sharpshooting from beyond the arc, nailing an impressive 15 three-pointers, was pivotal in their triumph.
The Golden Eagles and Golden Rams went back and fourth throughout the entire game, with Clarion making their biggest push midway through the second half. They rallied from a nine-point deficit with a 16-5 run, turning a 73-64 gap into an 80-78 lead. It remained a one-possession game as the teams traded possessions and free throws, until
Gavin Cote drained a three-pointer with 59 seconds left to make it 90-85.
From the tip-off, the Golden Eagles set the tone with Cote sinking back-to-back threes, sparking an early lead.
Justice Easter kept the momentum rolling with a smooth jumper and a clutch 3-pointer, putting Clarion firmly in control. The Golden Eagles capitalized on turnovers, highlighted by
Kendon Peebles driving for a layup and adding a free throw to keep them ahead.
Clarion's ball movement was on point, orchestrated by
Trey Nelson's assists, while their defense was relentless, racking up several steals. The first half wrapped up with Peebles draining a three, sending Clarion into the break with a 51-47 edge over the Golden Rams.
Kicking off the second half,
Trey Nelson wasted no time, executing a critical layup at 18:57, assisted by Easter, to widen the gap.
Jeremy Thomas II chipped in with a layup at 18:19, though a missed free throw kept the game tight. Despite some turnovers and missed opportunities, the Golden Eagles stayed aggressive on the fast break, exemplified by Thomas II's layup following a steal at 15:48, keeping their lead intact.
The Golden Eagles kept the pressure on with
Aydan Cunningham's key 3-pointer at 15:09, leveling the score. Staying strong in the paint, Nelson drove for a layup at 5:38, completing a three-point play to regain the upper hand. As the clock wound down, Peebles stepped up defensively with a steal at 7:59, leading to a fast-break layup from Easter, closing the gap.
The final moments saw the Golden Eagles sealing the deal with clutch free throws and Cote's decisive 3-pointer at 0:59, stretching their lead. Nelson's steady hand at the line with free throws at 0:42 put the game out of reach. Closing with authority,
Michael Moore's block with just a second left locked in the Golden Eagles' 96-90 victory.
Justice Easter led the charge with 25 points and four steals, showcasing his range with three 3-pointers and six free throws.
Trey Nelson added a double-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. Cote was on fire from long distance, contributing 16 points with his five 3-pointers. Peebles rounded out the effort with 14 points, seven free throws, and two steals.
