Despite having the games two leading scorers and playing less than 24 hours after an emotional loss to WSU Lake, the KSU Tuscarawas men's basketball team made a four-hour trip to Cincinnati Clermont and fell short 94-88 on Sunday at the Cougardome. Malik Campbell and Gunnar Tharp generated 68% of the Navy and Gold's offense as they combined to score 61 points in the loss.

Even though the final score was close, the game was decided by the officials who whistled 26 personal fouls on the visitors and just 12 on the home team. Benefitting from the huge disparity, UC Clermont would have 39 attempts from the charity stripe for the game and they made 29 of them, while shooting and making 20/23 in the second half alone. Comparatively, the Golden Eagles were rewarded with just 11 free throw attempts for the game and made good on 10 of them.

The Golden Eagles were forced to keep pace from the floor and they made good on 51% of their action shots on 21/43 shooting. They would make four more field goals than the Cougars on the day. UCC outrebounded KSU Tusc 42-27.

Campbell made 14/22 field goals (63%) and 6/7 shots (86%) from the free throw line while tying for a team high six rebounds to go with four assists, as he played a full 40 minutes of basketball scoring 34 points to lead all players. Tharp would score 27 points and make 11/21 field goal attempts (52%) with a free throw while also collecting three rebounds.

Trevor Donaldson scored eight points and grabbed four caroms for the Golden Eagles and Jacob Hicks added six rebounds.

The Golden Eagles host Akron Wayne at home Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Gunnar Tharp fights through a pick as Jacob Hicks jumps the ball handler.                                 (Photos by Memories by Lois)