Clarion (4-5 overall, 2-4 PSAC West) scored just one basket in the game’s first 9 ½ minutes, the game’s first layup by Darius Stevens 36 seconds in, and West Chester used a 16-0 run during that dry spell to build a 16-2 led with just under 11 minutes to play in the first half.

The Golden Rams lead grew to as many as 20, 37-17, late in the half before Clarion closed to within 16, 40-24, at the end of the half.

But West Chester expanded the advantage to 27, 57-32, 7 ½ minutes into the second half before a late Golden Eagle rally got them back within 13, 70-57, on a Tony Gates basket with 2:57 to play.

Freshman Cameron Grumley led Clarion with 18 points and four rebounds in just 25 minutes of action, while Stevens added 15 points, five rebounds and three steals. Kyheim Hall, who entered the game leading the PSAC and fourth in NCAA Division II in steals with 3.3 per game, added to his total with four more takeaways. But Hall was limited to three points and two rebounds.

West Chester (4-7, 3-4 PSAC East) got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Matt Wiseley, 14 tallies from Raheem Hall, 13 points, six caroms, five assists and three steals from Avery Brown and 10 points from Thomas White.

Clarion’s defense did force 23 West Chester turnovers and had 13 steals, but the Golden Eagles were only able to turn those giveaways into 18 points, and West Chester outscored Clarion 23-18 off turnovers with the Golden Eagles giving the ball away 21 times themselves.

Clarion shot just 40.7 percent (22 of 54) for the game and hit just 2 of 15 3-pointers while its struggles from the free-throw line continued (14 of 29). West Chester hit on 51.7 percent of its shots (30 of 58) including 15 of 27 in the second half.

The Golden Eagles are now off until Jan. 3 when they travel to Cheyney.