Bloomsburg Downs Clarion in Men's Basketball

BLOOMSBURG—Matt Jefferson (Philadelphia/George Washington) scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team to an 80-76 win over Clarion University Saturday night.

The game was back and forth in the first half with three ties and three lead changes in the opening 20 minutes. Bloomsburg held the early edge going in front 11-4 with just under 16 minutes left in the period after a three-pointer from Mike Cheatle (North Wales/Hatboro-Horsham).

Clarion battled back and went in front by nine points, 30-21, after a layup from Leon Kennedy. The Huskies, though, fought back and went into the locker room trailing by just three, 32-29, finishing the half with a 6-0 run.

In the second half, the Huskies opened the period with a 23-7 run, led by 11 points from Jefferson, to grab a 52-39 lead with 12:57 left in the game. The Golden Eagles came right back and used a 15-3 rally to close the gape back to one points, 55-54, with 8:43 to play. Leading the Clarion comeback was Booby Franklin who scored nine points in the rally.

However, an 8-0 run over the next two minutes helped stretch the lead back to nine points, 63-54, with 6:38 to play. Later, the Huskies would push the lead to 11, 72-61, on a Billy Bryan (Denver/Reading Holy Name) layup with 3:18 to play.

But, once again, Clarion came back and went on a 10-0 run to make it a one-point game, 72-71, with 1:42 to play. But Jefferson scored on an inside move to make it 74-71 and Marion Rose (Philadelphia/Mastbuam Tech) converted two free throws for a 76-71 lead with 38 seconds to play. After the Golden Eagles cut the margin back to two points, 78-76 with five seconds to play, freshman Seve Cunningham (Wrightsville/Eastern York) sealed the win for Bloomsburg by hitting two clutch free throws.

Bloomsburg (2-4) got 17 points and five rebounds from Jefferson, who was limited to just two minutes of action in the opening half due to foul trouble. Bryan added 13 points, while Ernest Cherry (St. Lucia) scored 11 and Cheatle 10 for the Huskies.

Clarion (2-2) got 17 points from Franklin and 15 from Terrance Vaughns.

The Huskies return to action on Tuesday night hosting Bowie State at 7 p.m.