CLARION “GOLDEN EAGLES” AT SHIPPENSBURG

MEN’S GAME INFORMATION

DATE: Jan. 12, 2005    LOCATION: Heiges Field House, Shippensburg, Pa.  TIME: 8 p.m.

CLARION RADIO/INTERNET: WCUC-FM 91.7 in Clarion & www.redzonemedia.com

CLARION RECORD: 9-3                                         SHIPPENSBURG RECORD: 8-5

NEXT FOR CLARION: at Mansfield Jan. 15                         NEXT FOR SHIP: at Cheyney Jan. 15

RIGHTER WINS 300^th CAREER GAME

·        Clarion’s 72-61 win over West Chester Sunday was Clarion head coach Ron Righter’s 300^th career victory with 276 of them coming at Clarion. Righter is now 300-190 in his 19^th season as a head coach including 276-166 in his 17^th season at Clarion.

WELLS NAMED PSAC-WEST CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK

·        Clarion’s 6-2 senior forward Ryan Wells was named the PSAC-West Co-Player of the Week last week after helping the Golden Eagles to a 2-0 week by averaging 21.0 ppg, 14.5 rpg and shooting 50 percent from the field (13 of 26) and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line (13 of 16). He had 18 points, 19 rebounds in a 69-63 win over Kutztown Saturday and added 24 points, 10 rebounds against West Chester Sunday. Wells is the son of Clarion Hall of Famer Reggie Wells, Sr. (Basketball) and his brother, Reggie Jr., was an All-American offensive lineman for the Golden Eagles and was the starting guard for the Arizona Cardinals this past season.

WELLS’ 19 REBOUNDS VS. KUTZTOWN TIES FOR 2^nd MOST AT CLARION SINCE 1980

·        Wells’ 19 rebounds vs. Kutztown Saturday ties for the second most rebounds in a game at Clarion since 1980. Chris Roosevelt at 20 Feb. 23, 1983 in a win over Mercyhurst. Marvin Wells (no relation) twice reached 19 rebounds – Nov. 25, 1997, & Nov. 15, 1997 – and Steve Branch got 19 rebounds Dec. 5, 1992.

CLARION LOOKING FOR NINTH STRAIGHT PSAC PLAYOFF BERTH

·        With the start of PSAC-West play tonight, Clarion is looking for its PSAC leading ninth consecutive PSAC Playoff berth. The Golden Eagles are 61-35 (.635) over the past eight seasons in PSAC-West action winning PSAC-West titles in 1997 and 2000 and a PSAC title in 2001. Including this season, Clarion is 159-75 (.679) overall since 1997, the fourth most wins in the PSAC during that span.

CLARION-SHIPPENSBURG SERIES

·        Clarion has won two in a row vs. Shippensburg, but the Red Raiders have won three of the past five meetings between the clubs winning the three games by eight points.

·        The Golden Eagles have struggled at Heiges Field House over the years and are just 6-9 on the gray floor since 1990. Four of those wins, however, have come in the last six years including a three-game win streak from 1999-2001.

·        Clarion won both meetings last season taking a 71-64 decision at Clarion Jan. 31, 2004, and a 52-39 win at Shippensburg in the regular-season finale Jan. 28, 2004. The 39 points allowed by Clarion in the game at Shippensburg were the fewest yielded by Clarion since winning 80-37 over Davis & Elkins in 2002-03. It was the fewest points scored against Clarion by a PSAC-West opponent since Clarion beat IUP 43-37 during the 183-84 campaign.