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LATE CLARION RALLY FALLS SHORT IN LOSS TO WAYNE STATE

CLARION – Wayne State built a 14-point halftime lead and then held off a late Clarion charge to get a 52-44 win over the Golden Eagles Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

The Warriors (6-5) used a 13-3 run to end the first half with a 35-21 lead and still led by 12 – 43-31 – with 11:47 to play.

But Clarion went on an 8-0 run fueled by a three-pointers from Demtrius Graham to cut the lead to four – 43-39 – with 7:13 to play. The Golden Eagles still trailed by four – 45-41 after a Frank Torbert jumper with 3:13 left, but Wayne State ended the game on a 7-3 run to hold on for the win.

Torbert led Clarion with 14 points on 5 of 12 shooting, while Brent Nelson added six points and 11 rebounds and Josh Yanke six points and four boards off the bench.

Joe Carr paced Wayne State with 17 points including 10 in the second half, while Kris Krzyminski had 14 points but was held to only four in the second half thanks to the defense of Bobby Franklin.

Neither team shot well from the free-throw line. Clarion was 4 of 13 while Wayne State was 6 of 17.

Clarion returns to action Saturday when it hosts East Stroudsburg at 3 p.m. The Eagles then host Kutztown at 3 p.m. Sunday and open up PSAC-West play at 8 p.m. Wednesday when they host California.