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LATE RUN HELPS CLARION NOTCH SECOND STRAIGHT WIN

SLIPPERY ROCK – Clarion used a 15-3 run late in the game to break open a 2-point lead an get a 70-57 win over Slippery Rock in PSAC-West men’s basketball action Wednesday night at Slippery Rock’s Morrow Field House.

The Golden Eagles (7-12 overall, 2-4 PSAC-West), who have won two straight, led 51-49 following an Erroll Robinson free throw for Slippery Rock with 8:27 to play. But Bobby Franklin scored 10 of his season-high 16 points in the final 3:33 to help Clarion pull away.

Leon Kennedy led the Eagles with a game-high 18 points while adding four rebounds and four steals, while Josh Yanke added a double-double finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Franklin chipped in with six rebounds and two assists.

Clarion led 33-32 at halftime following a closely played first half. Neither team led by more than six in the half with Clarion grabbing the half’s biggest lead at 26-20 before Slippery Rock finished the half on a 12-7 run. Clarion got the lead at halftime thnkas to a Kennedy layup with 16 seconds left.

Slippery Rock started the second half on a 6-0 run to take a 38-33 lead, but Clarion quickly regained the lead thanks to three-pointers by Justin Collin and Josh Yanke with Franklin getting assists on both.

The teams then traded leads four times before Clarion took the lead for good – 47-46 – on a Kennedy layup with 10:08 to play.

The win leaves Clarion just a game behind Lock Haven for the fourth and final PSAC Playoff spot granted to the PSAC-West at the halfway point of the conference schedule.

Clarion returns to action Saturday when it travels to first-place California. The Vulcans, who sit at 5-1 in the conference, beat Clarion 66-63 Feb. 10 at Clarion. The game, which tips at 7 p.m., can be heard locally on 91.7 FM in Clarion and on the Internet at www.redzonemedia.com.