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LATE CLARION RALLY FALLS SHORT, IUP BEATS GOLDEN EAGLES 77-72

CLARION – Trailing by 15 with 6:21 to play, the Clarion men’s basketball team went on a 14-3 run before falling short 77-72 against IUP in PSAC-West men’s basketball action Wednesday night at Tippin Gym.

Clarion (5-10 overall, 0-2 PSAC-West), which has lost eight straight, trailed 65-50 following a three-pointer by Avery Oliver. But the Golden Eagles caught fire thanks to nine points from Leon Kennedy to close the gap to 67-64 on a Kennedy three with 2:25 to play.

But that was as close as Clarion got. IUP (3-10, 1-0), which broke a 10-game losing streak, hit 4 of 6 free throws in the closing 50 seconds and also got a couple of breakaway baskets after beating the Clarion press to seal the win.

IUP led 36-25 at halftime thanks to a half-ending 17-7 run and then moved the lead out to 15 midway through the second half before Clarion rallied.

Kennedy led the Golden Eagles with 25 points, all of them in the second half. He added six rebounds. Justin Collins chipped in with 23 points including five three-pointers. He scored 19 in the first half and hit all five of his triples in the half. He was also a  perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Demetrius Graham, making his third straight start, ran the show with eight points, six assists and three steals while only turning the ball over twice.

Oliver paced IUP with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Angelo Jones added 17 points including four three-pointers off the bench. Jordan Shaw and Allen Deep each chipped in with 11 tallies.  

Clarion returns to action Saturday at Shippensburg (3 p.m.). That game can be heard locally on the radio at 91.7 FM in Clarion and on the internet at www.redzonemedia.com. The game will also be televised over the internet at www.ncaasports.com/DII for anyone with a high-speed connection. A free registration is required to view the game.