Release Date: 1/14/06

For Immediate Release: Last Minute Free Throws Thwart Mountie Comeback in 82-72 Loss at Clarion

Clarion – Clarion hit eight free throws over the last 45 seconds of the game to hold on in a 82-72 win over Mansfield in a PSAC crossover contest Saturday afternoon at Tippin Gymnasium.

“I’m disappointed we lost, but not in the way we played,” said head coach Rich Miller. “We played hard but missed shots and free throws during some key times in the game.”

Playing with second leading scorer and top post player Carlos Collazo, who missed the game because of illness, the Mountaineers were cold in the first half making just 36.7% of their shots in trailing 42-35 at intermission.

Clarion (7-7) would extend that lead to 51-37 two minutes into the second half before the Mountaineers would scramble back on the strength of a 13-2 run to close the gap to 53-50 on a jumper by Terrance Williams at the 13:20 mark.

Clarion led 67-56 with eight minutes to go when the Mountaineers started chipping away starting with back-to-back 3-pointers by Williams and Brandon DeShields to cut the lead to 71-68 on a Williams layup with just under four minutes to play.

With just under two minutes to go and trailing 74-70 Mansfield missed three straight free throws while Clarion hit 8-8 from the free throw line over the last 45 seconds.

“I know Justin (Kress) feels badly because he missed some free throws,” said Miller. “But he played a great game for us, especially defensively. With Carlos out, we needed a great effort for him and Justin gave us everything he had.”

Making his first start of the season, Kress played a career high 37 minutes hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field and pulling down eight rebounds with a blocked shot.

Mansfield held an impressive 40-27 rebounding advantage including 17-5 on the offensive boards but couldn’t overcome Clarion’s 53.7% shooting from the floor (10-19, 52/6% on three pointers) and 77.8% (14-18) on free throws.

The Mountaineers 44.8% from the floor and just 52.6% (12-23) on free throw attempts.

DeShields scored a game high 20 pints with nine rebounds while Terrance Williams scored a season high 18 points with five assists. Kress added 15 points.

Bobby Franklin and Terrance Vaughns each scored 16 points to lead six Clarion (7-7) players in double figures. Ricky Henderson came off the bench to record a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Mansfield finished 2-5 against PSAC West teams with all five losses coming by a combined total of 16 points.

“We not making any excuses, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been healthy,” said Miller. “We’ve played without three different starters at times over the past six games but we should be as healthy as we’ve been in a long time for the PSAC East opener against Millersville on Wednesday and I’m excited about that.”

Newspaper Box Score

Mansfield vs Clarion "Golden Eagles"

01/14/06 3 p.m. at Clarion, PA

At Clarion, PA

CLARION "GOLDEN EAGLES" 82, MANSFIELD 72

MANSFIELD (5-8)

DESHIELDS, Brandon 5-18 7-8 20; WILLIAMS, Terrance 7-13 2-2 18; KRESS,

Justin 7-10 1-9 15; HAMPTON, John 3-7 0-0 7; HOOPES, David 2-3 0-0 5;

GREENE, Chris 1-1 0-0 3; MARTIN, Andrae 0-2 2-2 2; MORTIMER, Denny 1-3 0-2

2; HILL, Kevin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 12-23 72.

CLARION "GOLDEN EAGLES" (7-7)

FRANKLIN, Bobby 6-12 2-3 16; VAUGHNS, Terrance 5-9 3-3 16; BUCHANAN, Chris

5-7 0-0 13; KENNEDY, Leon 5-12 2-2 12; HENDERSON, Ricky 3-6 4-6 10; COLLINS,

Justin 3-4 2-2 10; CLARKE, Michael 2-3 1-2 5; SMITH, Ryan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals

29-54 14-18 82.

Mansfield.....................   35   37  -   72

Clarion "Golden Eagles".......   42   40  -   82

3-point goals-Mansfield 8-23 (DESHIELDS, Brandon 3-12; WILLIAMS, Terrance

2-6; HAMPTON, John 1-1; GREENE, Chris 1-1; HOOPES, David 1-2; HILL, Kevin

0-1), Clarion "Golden Eagles" 10-19 (VAUGHNS, Terrance 3-6; BUCHANAN, Chris

3-4; COLLINS, Justin 2-3; FRANKLIN, Bobby 2-3; HENDERSON, Ricky 0-1;

KENNEDY, Leon 0-2). Fouled out--Mansfield-HOOPES, David, Clarion "Golden

Eagles"-None. Rebounds-Mansfield 40 (DESHIELDS, Brandon 9), Clarion "Golden

Eagles" 27 (HENDERSON, Ricky 11). Assists-Mansfield 12 (WILLIAMS, Terrance

5), Clarion "Golden Eagles" 14 (HENDERSON, Ricky 5). Total fouls-Mansfield

23, Clarion "Golden Eagles" 20. A-350