West Chester Holds Off Clarion Rally For The Win, 77-65

Box Score

CLARION, Pa. – Sr., G Troy Hockaday scored a team-high 16 points and Jr., F Cory Blake added 14 as visiting West Chester defeated host Clarion, 77-65, in a non-conference men's basketball game inside Tippin Gym Wednesday night.
 
West Chester (10-4) upped its winning streak to four straight and finishes 4-2 against the PSAC West while Clarion (2-9) made things interesting near the end of the contest, but could not finish off the comeback bid.
 
The Golden Rams, who led by as many as 12 four minutes into the second half, saw that lead shrink to the narrowest of margins at 56-55 with 9:48 to play on a jumper by B.J. Andrews (18 points). However, that would be the last field goal the hosts would make the rest of the way as West Chester closed out the game on a 21-10 run. All 10 of Clarion's points came from the foul line. Andrews nailed a pair of free throws with 8:39 left to tie the game at 57-all. That would be the 15th and last tie of the game.
 
The Rams went 13-for-15 from the line down the stretch to secure the win. Shannon Givens sparked the game-deciding run with nine of West Chester's 21 points. He finished with 13 points on the night, including 11 in the second half. Nine of those 11 points came in the final 10 minutes of the contest. He was 5-for-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch.
 
Eric Frans was the fourth and final Golden Rams player in double figures. He scored 10. Matt Wisely scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Blaked added nine rebounds to his 14-point effort.
 
DeMarius Miller scored 14 points for Clarion while Marques Jones and Aaron Johnson each added 10 apiece.
 
West Chester outrebounded Clarion, 44-33.
 
West Chester returns home Saturday to face the newest member of the PSAC Eastern Division, Lock Haven. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.