The Golden Eagles (4-4 overall, 2-3 PSAC West) trailed by just nine, 59-50, with 11:01 to play after using a 21-10 run to cut into a 20-point deficit near the start of the second half.

But East Stroudsburg (6-3, 5-1) responded with the game-ending run and had the lead to as many as 31 – 83-52 and 85-54 – in the final two minutes.

Aaron Johnson led Clarion with 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots, while BJ Andrews added 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. Brandon Williams chipped in with nine points, while Kyheim Hall had six points, seven rebounds, six steals and two blocked shots. He now has 14 steals in his last two games.

Lamont Tilleru led East Stroudsburg with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Matt Tobin added 13 points and eight assists and Rasheed Moore 10 points for the Warriors, who led 47-29 at halftime.

Clarion hit just 12 of 40 shots in the opening 20 minutes and found itself down 49-29 40 seconds into the second half.

But the 21-10 run helped the Golden Eagles climb back into the game. Andrews had eight of his points during the spurt including hitting a 3-pointer as well as all three free throws after being fouled taking a triple. Darius Stevens, who had six points and five rebounds, and Hall each added four points during the run, which ended on a Johnson layup with 11:01 to play and got Clarion to within 59-50.

Following Johnson’s bucket, though, Clarion managed just one more basket – a Johnson basket at the 9:02 mark – until scoring twice in the final 37 seconds.

Clarion returns to action at 3 p.m. Saturday at West Chester.