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GOLDEN EAGLES BATTLE TO THE END BUT FALL TO CAL 67-62 IN PSAC PLAYOFF OPENER

CALIFORNIA – The Clarion University men’s basketball team showed the same resiliency it had shown all season battling to the end before falling to top-seeded California 67-62 in the PSAC quarterfinals Tuesday night at Cal.

“It was like World War II out there and a heavy-weight prize fight,” Clarion head coach Ron Righter said. “We took their best punch and kept coming back. We just couldn’t get that last big shot to go. I couldn’t be any prouder of our guys.”

The fourth-seeded Golden Eagles (13-15), despite being in deep foul trouble for most of the second half, were within four – 60-56 – with 1:41 remaining but just couldn’t quite get over the hump. Cal’s John Owens stopped the Eagle momentum with a jumper at the 1:29 mark.

Clarion trailed by nine – 37-29 – at halftime after being down by as many as 13 in the first half but battled back at the start of the second half getting to within four midway through the second half.

Cal then got the lead back up to nine points 49-40 before Clarion went on a 16-11 run to get back within the four points at 60-56.

Leon Kennedy had 27 points for Clarion to lead all scorers. The 27 points were tied for the third most in a PSAC Playoff game for Clarion since 1981. Chris Roosevelt also had 27 vs. Shippensburg in 1983.

Brent Nelson and Bobby Franklin each chipped in with seven points for Clarion, while Demetrius Graham had five points and four assists.

Kelvin Green paced Cal (23-5) with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Osborne Gardner added 14, John Owens 13 and James Hairston 10.

GOLDEN EAGLES NOTES – Clarion won 8 of its final 11 games to close the season including 6 of its final 8 to make the PSAC Playoffs after and 0-4 start in the conference … Gregg Frist has the most points in a PSAC Playoff game for Clarion since 1981 scoring 37 vs. Cheyney in 1997, while Alvin Gibson had 29 vs. Lock Haven in 1981 … It was the first time since 2004 that Cal and Clarion met in the PSAC postseason.