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GOLDEN EAGLES FALL BY THREE TO CAL IN PSAC-WEST OPENER

CLARION – Chris Buchanan’s three-pointer with under five seconds left was off, and California held on to beat Clarion 66-63 in the PSAC-West opener for both teams Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

Cal led by seven – 60-53 – with 7:04 left before Clarion went on a 7-0 run that started with a Buchanan three with 6:54 to play to tie the game at 60. Kennedy’s layup with 4:53 left knotted the game.  

But James Petty’s lay-up with 3:06 left broke the tie and gave Cal the lead for good.

Cal had an 8-point lead – 26-18 – midway through the first half before Clarion answered with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 26 with 5:17 left in the first half.

But the Vulcans went ahead 37-34 at halftime.  

Leon Kennedy led Clarion with 17 points while Chris Buchanan had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Kelvin Green paced Cal with 19 points while Petty had 16 points and Theron Colao 11 off the bench.

Clarion returns to action Saturday at Millersville (3 p.m.) and Sunday at West Chester (3 p.m.) before returning to Tippin Gym to play IUP in a PSAC-West game at 8 p.m. Wednesday.