JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — In a nail-biting finish at the Sports Center, the Clarion Golden Eagles (12-16, 7-13 PSAC) just missed the mark against Pitt-Johnstown (12-16, 6-14 PSAC), falling 85-83. Despite a hot hand from downtown with 12 three-pointers, the Eagles couldn't pull off the win in the waning seconds.
Aydan Cunningham led with 22 points, nailing four from deep and grabbing five boards.
Trey Nelson put up a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 12 assists, along with three steals.
Gavin Cote chipped in 16 points, connecting on four treys, and snagged six rebounds.
Jeremy Thomas II added 11 points, leading the team with seven rebounds.
Clarion shook off an early 9-0 deficit with a flurry of perimeter shots and fast breaks, quickly finding their groove.
Justice Easter ignited the offense with a clutch three-pointer at 16:51, sparking a scoring surge. The Golden Eagles capitalized on turnovers and defensive boards, keeping the game neck-and-neck.
Trey Nelson and
Aydan Cunningham were pivotal in maintaining the pressure, dishing out key assists and sinking baskets. Cunningham's crucial three at 5:08 brought Clarion right back in the mix. As the half went on, their swift transition play helped close the gap, with Nelson's buzzer-beater layup giving them a slim 40-39 lead at the break.
The second half saw Clarion strike first with Nelson nailing a jumper to regain the lead.
Gavin Cote followed suit with a three-pointer, extending the cushion to four. The Golden Eagles kept up their offensive rhythm, with Nelson dishing assists and Cote adding critical points, including another bomb from beyond the arc at 16:30.
As the clock ticked down,
Jeremy Thomas II and Cunningham kept the scoreboard ticking. Thomas's layup and one, paired with Cunningham's three, kept Clarion competitive. But the Mountain Cats clawed back, taking a slight edge with under two minutes to go.
In the final stretch, Clarion's push featured a Nelson layup and Cote's free throws, inching them closer, but the Mountain Cats held on for the win.
