CLARION, Pa. — The Clarion Golden Eagles put up a spirited fight but ultimately fell to Edinboro, 93-78, on Saturday at Coach Cal Court at Tippin Gym.
Trey Nelson shone with 27 points, shooting 10-of-19, and dished out six assists, leading the offensive charge.
Cam Crockett added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, along with three rebounds.
Justice Easter contributed 10 points and two blocks, showcasing his impact on both ends.
Jeremy Thomas II chipped in nine points and four steals, anchoring the defense.
The game kicked off with a thrilling exchange of baskets, highlighted by
Cam Crockett's layup at 19:13 that leveled the score early on. The Golden Eagles, led by the persistent efforts of Thomas and Nelson, chipped away at the Fighting Scots' lead. However, turnovers proved costly, with nine miscues limiting their scoring chances.
In the waning moments of the first half, Clarion narrowed the deficit with a clutch three-pointer from
Justice Easter at 3:57 and a fastbreak triple by
Gavin Cote at 1:45 that made it 33-29. Still, Edinboro's sharp shooting and fastbreak prowess saw them head into halftime leading 37–29.
Clarion started the second half with a defensive statement—Easter's block on a layup attempt set the tone for a competitive period. Thomas made his presence felt with a tip-in at 17:10, and Nelson's dynamic play, including a fastbreak layup and free throw at 14:46, brought the Golden Eagles to within 47-41.
Yet, Edinboro held firm, extending their lead through steady scoring. The Golden Eagles answered with a steal by Thomas, followed by his electrifying fastbreak dunk at 8:05 that ignited the team. However, the Fighting Scots' timely three-pointers and free throws kept them in control.
Clarion refused to back down, with Nelson and Easter combining for key plays that kept hope alive. Despite their valiant efforts, the Golden Eagles couldn't close the gap, as Edinboro closed out the game with a 93-78 victory.
