CLARION, Pa. – Cameron Grumley notched 20 points and Khari Williams 16 points, but the Golden Eagles’ comeback attempt against Mercyhurst fell short as the Lakers took a 72-65 decision at Tippin Gymnasium on Wednesday.
(Photo: Cameron Grumley. Photo courtesy of Clarion University Athletics)
Clarion (3-19, 0-16 PSAC) will be back on the road this weekend when they face off with Pitt-Johnstown.
Williams’ scoring night was his best output since notching a season-high 18 points against Fayetteville State, and the freshman guard also added six boards, a block and a steal. Grumley contributed seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, while Mason Mraz also added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Khari Williams opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the right corner, taking a feed out of the paint from Brandon Williams and draining the long bomb. The Lakers countered with an 8-0 run, exacerbating a Clarion drought that was not ended until a Maqi Watson free throw at the 16:10 mark of the first half. Grumley ended the field goal drought with a three-pointer from beyond the head of the key to make it 14-7.
Mercyhurst extended their lead midway through the first half, going up 21-10 after a three-pointer by Lorenzo Collier. RJ Laugand responded with a trey of his own, scoring from the deep right corner to make it just an eight-point game. Watson followed that up with a fast break bucket on the next possession, slicing the Lakers’ lead to just 21-15.
The lead grew to 11 points after a transition from Malcolm Walters, but Israel Atkins dropped it back into single digits with a putback with under two minutes to go. Grumley whipped the crowd into a frenzy on the next possession, hitting an NBA-range three-pointer to pull Clarion within 33-28. Khari Williams’ jumper with 20 seconds left cut the Lakers’ lead to 34-30 at the half.
Mason Mraz knocked down a three-pointer to open the second half, making it just a 36-33 deficit. Brandon Williams cut it to 41-37 with a spinning layup at the 16:40 mark, and Mason Mraz sparked another bucket at the 14:47 mark with a blocked shot that turned into a putback from Atkins. Mercyhurst stretched the lead back out to 49-41 before Laugand cut back into it, making a 17-footer from the left side to cut it to two possessions.
The Lakers’ advantage grew, though, and stayed at around three possessions for most of the rest of the period. Walters knocked down a three-pointer with 3:44 left to push Mercyhurst’s advantage to 66-56, but Grumley responded with a trey on the next possession to cut it to seven points. Mraz stole a pass on the ensuing possession and drew a foul on the transition try, making one of two free throws to pull Clarion within 66-60. Mercyhurst pulled away from there, though, and ultimately set the final deficit at 72-65.
