All systems were a "GO" on Saturday for the Golden Eagles, as they took flight after a 12-day layoff and launched themselves to a 99-58 win over visiting Clark State in Founders Hall Gym. With the win, the USCAA fifth-ranked Golden Eagles move their record to 5-2 on the season.
A coach might worry about his team's tenacity after a grounding of nearly two weeks, but KSU Tuscarawas flexed their muscles early and took a quick 4-0 lead on two DeJuan Lawrence lay ins over the smaller Golden Eagles of Clark State. They nearly had another easy one to start the game after an alley-oop off the opening tip.
The lead stretched to 10-2 when Lawrence added another backdoor bucket off a fabulous elbow-to-low-block bounce pass from Braden Rostad and Kameron Shockley added a drive and two free throws as he and Lawrence combined for the first 10 KSU Tusc points.
Down 19-7, Clark State mounted a 6-0 run and closed the gap to 19-13, but it was as close as the game would get the rest of the way.
Leading 27-18 with 7:19 left in the opening half, the homestanding Golden Eagles skyrocketed on a 20-0 sprint to take a commanding 47-18 lead. A Clark State three-ball with :42 left was their first hoop in more than six and one-half minutes as KSU Tusc dashed to a 47-21 halftime advantage.
A Kameron Shockley triple got the deluge started as the Eagles out-muscled, out-hustled, out-shot and out-defensed the visitors. With the exception of triples by Shockley, Rostad and Arthur Jackson during the flurry, the Navy and Gold converted on high percentage shots courtesy of their flocking defense reminiscent of chaotic scenes from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds".
The second half was all Golden Eagles as they advanced their lead to 33 points (54-21) in the first two minutes of the final half. The lead ballooned to 42 with two minutes left and they coasted home with the 99-58 win.
Kameron Shockley led all scorers with a game-high 23 points and made 8/13 field goal tries and 5/7 free throws. Lawrence scored 19 on 8/13 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, Kyle Shockley had 16---eight in each half on 8/12 shooting, while Jackson contributed 12 points and 12 boards while Rostad and James Roundtree both scored 10. Combined, the double-figure scorers for KSU Tusc made 34/57 action shots for 60%.
The Eagles made 52% of their field goal attempts (42-80), sinking seven shots from being the arc and also converted on 8/11 free throws. They also held a decided 63-22 rebound advantage, blocked 11 shots and outscored Clark State in transition 31-8.
On Tuesday, December 7th, the Golden Eagles host Penn State Beaver in a 7:00 p.m. tipoff. Tickets are $5 at the door.
DeJuan Lawrence draws a crowd on his way to the basket.
Jordan Stevens and Coach Tharp strategize.
Photos by Patty Tolloti - Solid Rock Photos