Thoroughly tested! That's what you could say about the Golden Eagles basketball game against Clark State on Saturday before dispatching the visitors from Springfield, OH, 104-94, in Founders Hall Gym.
The game was a battle from start to finish, as the home-standing Golden Eagles battled their like-named counterparts for superiority. Clark State grabbed the early lead and came ready to play before the local Eagles gained some lift and took a 6-5 lead.
KSU Tusc would soar to two first-half leads of 14 points, but Clark State answered the call each time with runs of their own to cut those double-digit leads to single digits. Near the end of the half the good guys fashioned a furious pace into a 54-41 lead to give them some breathing room going into the locker room.
The final half started with much better play by KSU Tusc. They held Clark State scoreless for nearly four minutes at one point and took a 65-51 advantage. Then things kind of went south for the Golden Eagles who couldn't convert on free throws to keep themselves afloat. Missing both ends of several two-shot opportunities and the front end of bonus situations cracked open the door.
Clark State seized the momentum and chipped away at the KSU lead and got to within 76-71 before Coach Tharp called for a timeout. The brief respite suited the visitors well as they trimmed the margin to 77-76 after the Eagles missed two point-blank range shot attempts.
Freshman, Ethan Bower came to the rescue with a steal, a couple of free throws and two floaters in the lane before ramming home a three-ball from deep in the right corner pocket. His play, along with that of senior, London Cobbs down the stretch subsequently spelled doom for Clark State.
The duo went off for a total of 24 second half points, with the majority of Cobbs' baskets coming as he attacked the rim against the gambling defense of Clark State. Their inspired play along with a pair of DeJuan Lawrence dunks---one on a beautiful up and under move---and a statement dunk and long range three-point bomb from Kameron Shockley sealed the deal as the Eagles streaked ahead by 16 points.
Cobbs led four KSU Tusc players in double figures with 27 points, while Kameron Shockley added 20, Lawrence had 15 to go along with 16 boards for his second double-double in as many games and Bower scored 10.
Next up for the Golden Eagles is a trip to Northern Kentucky to take on Thomas More University on Saturday, Nov. 12th at 7:00 p.m.
JaJuantae Young is fouled on his way to the basket.
Kameron Shockley dunks home two against Clark State.
(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)