CLARION, Pa. — In a hard-fought battle in Tippin Gym on Wednesday, the Golden Eagles (7-8, 2-5 PSAC) came up short against Slippery Rock (12-3, 5-2 PSAC), with a final score of 78-71. It was a nail-biter featuring eight ties and five lead changes, but The Rock pulled away in the final two minutes to secure the win.
The game tipped off with a bang as
Justice Easter threw down a dunk just seconds in, courtesy of an assist from
Jeremy Thomas II, setting an energetic pace for the Golden Eagles. The lead seesawed early, with Easter knocking down a three at 17:12 to even the score at 7–7.
Trey Nelson's steal at 19:16 sparked good ball movement for the Golden Eagles, allowing Clarion to showcase a strong offensive front, including seven made 3-pointers in the first half.
Clarion's bench chipped in 17 points in the first half, underscoring the team's depth. Thomas and
Gavin Cote orchestrated the offense beautifully, each dishing out multiple assists. The half ended in a deadlock at 39-39, thanks to Nelson's jumper near the end of the half.
The second half saw the Golden Eagles briefly ahead after Thomas's layup and free throw combo made it 42-39 at 19:11. But Slippery Rock quickly countered, regaining momentum with a three from Sheick Samoura. Clarion's determination shone through when Easter nailed a three-pointer at 11:32, tying it up at 52-52.
Nelson's relentless drives to the basket kept Clarion within striking distance, and Easter's three-pointer at 3:47 had the Golden Eagles within a point at 66-65. Despite their valiant efforts, Slippery Rock managed to pull away late with clutch free throws and fast-break points, sealing the game with a 39-32 second-half advantage, leading to a 78-71 final.
Easter put up 16 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and snagging two steals. Nelson led Clarion with 18 points on an impressive 8-for-9 shooting, adding four assists and two steals. Thomas II was a standout with six assists and nine rebounds, while
Michael Moore anchored the defense with three blocks and two assists.
