Sports

Buzzer beater lifts Clarion men’s basketball over Edinboro

Last Saturday, Feb. 12, the Clarion Golden Eagles men’s basketball team was able to keep its post-season dreams alive as they got a clutch conference win against the Fighting
Scots of Edinboro.

This game was the same as all recent games for the Golden Eagles; it came down to the wire.

The Golden Eagles had lost four straight PSAC West conference games, which put them toward the bottom of the conference.

Coming into Saturday’s game the Golden Eagles had the must- win mentality.

Two out of four of those games were lost by only one point.

Clarion has struggled at Edinboro in previous years.

Their record at McComb fieldhouse was 3-24 dating back to 1986.

The first half was contested by both teams.

The Fighting Scots got to a fast start, jumping on the Golden Eagles 31-16 with 7:53 before the half.

Clarion would eventually climb back into the game before the half with help from guard Jamar Harrison, going on a 16-5 run.

Eight of those points came from Jamar Harrison, who finished with a career high 32 points.

He also had nine rebounds and three steals to help lead his team to the win.

Another player who provided a much needed spark for the Golden Eagles was senior point guard Lloyd Harrison, who also had a career high with 34 points of his own, to go with
five rebounds three steals and an assist.

With the efforts of these two, the Golden Eagles would go into the locker room one point down, 40-39.

When the two teams came out for the second half, things would remain the same.

Both teams kept jocking for possession and a stable lead.

The game was tied at 77-77 with 3:43 left in the game.

Both teams were still searching for a way to pull away from the other team.

It wasn’t that way for long after the Golden Eagles went on another run that pushed the score to 83-79 with just 50 seconds left on the clock.

But just as Clarion thought that they had it all wrapped, the Fighting Scots made a comeback.with a three-pointer to tie the game with only 19 seconds to play.

Clarion then called a much needed time out to get the potential game winning play called.

When the Golden Eagles came back onto the floor, they got the ball into the hands of Jamar Harrison who was hot all game.

Out of all his 32 points, none would be bigger than his last three.

Jamar Harrison made the shot in front of his own bench with time ticking off the clock to seal the win for the Golden Eagles.

It was the first time a Golden Eagle has hit a game-winning shot since last year when Lloyd Harrison hit one against CalU.

The win now pushes the Golden Eagles conference record to a manageable 4-6, and their total record to 14-8.

The Golden Eagles’ next home game is this Saturday, Feb. 19, at Waldo Tippin gymnasium against the Crimson Hawks of IUP. That game will tip off at 7:30 p.m.