Clarion, Pa. – A balanced offensive attack and a strong second half pushed the Edinboro men's basketball team to an 83-62 road victory over Clarion in PSAC West action Saturday afternoon inside Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.
The Scots trailed at the half, 37-34, but scored the first eight points of the second half capped by an and-one from
Bernie Blunt to give Edinboro a 42-37 lead at the 16:24 mark. Clarion got two back on a Cam Kearney dunk before the Scots reeled off the next 10 points pushing the lead to 52-39 on a layup by
Jack Gallagher at 13:26.
Jahma Hamilton-Brown scored out of a Golden Eagle timeout, but answered with eight straight to extend the lead to 60-41 with 10:28 to play. Clarion pushed back with a 10-1 run to cut the advantage to 10, 61-51, with 8:43 showing on the clock, but a 12-6 run saw the Edinboro lead back to 73-57 and the lead never slipped below 13 the rest of the way.
Edinboro got out of the gate fast with
Bernie Blunt and Gallagher each scoring four points as the Scots grabbed an early 8-2 lead. Clarion pulled back within two, 14-12, with 10-6 run capped by a Kearney free throw.
Ryan Ladjevich hit a 3-pointer and
Daunte Wilcott scored a bucket and finished the 3-point play at the line to make it 20-12 Scots with 13:08 remaining in the first half.
The Golden Eagles grabbed their first lead of the game at the 9:44 mark when Connor Spratt capped a 10-0 run with a layup.
Will Taylor leveled the score with a layup at 9:32, but Clarion scored the next eight to take a 30-22 edge with 5:38 left in the half. A Gallagher jumper and
Easton Fulmer trey pulled the Scots within three, 30-27, at the 4:59 mark. The lead would hover there over the final five minutes and Clarion carried a 37-34 advantage to the break.
Blunt led all scorers with 25 points including shooting 11-of-11 from the free throw line, adding three boards and three assists. Wilcott chipped in 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Gallagher finished with 17 points, seven boards, six assists and three steals while Lajevich notched 15 points and six rebounds.
Madior Seye tallied 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Kearney led the Golden Eagles with 22 points and five boards. Gavin Cote was the only other Clarion player to score in double figures with 10.
The Scots are back in action on Wednesday with a trip to Gannon. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
