GOLDEN EAGLES COLLINS NAMED PSAC-WEST “PLAYER OF THE WEEK”

Clarion University sophomore guard Justin Collins (Lansdale/North Penn) is the PSAC-West “Player of the Week” for the week ending with games Jan. 24.

Collins averaged 19.7 ppg while hitting an amazing 76.2 percent (16 of 21) of his three-pointers and 70.4 percent (19 of 27) of his shots. Collins tied a school record for three-point field goal percentage in a game by hitting 8 of 8 in Clarion’s 100-83 win at IUP Saturday. That performance came on the heels of a 7-for-9 performance from behind the arc in a 76-70 loss at the University of the District of Columbia Monday. Collins scored 24 points in the IUP game, a career-high 26 in the UDC contest while adding nine in a 64-58 Clarion win at Slippery Rock Wednesday.

Collins’ performance Saturday helped Clarion shot a single-game school record 70 percent (14 of 20) from three-point land while becoming the first team to score 100 points on IUP in 13 years.

On the season, Collins leads the PSAC in three-point field goal percentage at an even 50 percent (41 of 82) while averaging 10.6 ppg.

Clarion is 12-4 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC-West. The Golden Eagles are aiming for their eighth straight PSAC Playoff berth this season.

The Golden Eagles play twice at home this week hosting Lock Haven at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Shippensburg at 3 p.m. Saturday in PSAC-West action.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Collins’ 8 three-pointer were one shy of tying the school record of nine held by David Cruise and Kwame Morton … His 100 percent from three-point range ties the school record for players taking five or more three’s … Chris Kelley was 6-for-6 in the 1999-2000 season … Morton holds the school record for three-point field-goal percentage when taking 10 or more when he shot 80 percent (8 of 10) in 1990-91 … Collins is the third Clarion player to be honored as a Player of the Week this year joining junior forward Ryan Wells and sophomore guard Terrance Vaughns … Clarion has won eight of its past 10 games and was ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II East Region last week … Three of Clarion’s four losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10 … The 100 points scored against IUP marked the first time Clarion scored 100 points in regulation in a PSAC-West game since the 1994-95 season when the Eagles beat Slippery Rock 107-90 … Clarion did score 100 points in double overtime in a 100-94 win over Edinboro in 1999-2000.