CLARION, Pa. - With its back against the wall in terms of the playoff race, the Gannon men's basketball team shot 56.3 percent (27-48) from the field and posted a huge 76-67 victory at Clarion Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division action.

As a result, head coach John T. Reilly became the fifth men's basketball coach in school history to record 100 career victories at Gannon. The victory improved Reilly's record to 100-63 in six seasons at Gannon and 332-208 in 18 years overall at Gannon and Brescia.

The first half was a battle that went back and forth, featuring three ties and 11 lead changes. Clarion held a 19-13 lead midway through the first half, before Gannon out-scored the Golden Eagles 24-10 in the final 10 minutes.

Gannon assumed a 20-19 lead with a quick 7-0 run. Kelvin Agee (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) netted the first five points on a jumper and a three-pointer. Stephen Battle's (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) jumper at the 8:27 mark gave the Golden Knights a one-point lead.

Reilly's club snapped a 27-27 tie by scoring 10 of the first half's final 12 points, including the final seven. Leading 30-29, Anthony Claggett (Mount Rainier, Md./Friendship Collegiate Academy) converted a lay-up and Battle nailed a three-pointer. Moments later, Battle capped the half with a slam dunk to send the Golden Knights to the break with a 37-29 edge.

Gannon never relinquished the lead in the second half. Clarion got as close as 47-44 at the 13:28 mark, but the Golden Knights responded with a 18-4 run over the next 6:19 to salt the game away. Travis Brannen's (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira Free Academy) lay-up with 7:09 remaining gave the Golden Knights their biggest lead of the afternoon at 65-48. The Golden Eagles were never able to get closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Agee led all scorers with 24 points, going 7-of-11 from the field, 4-of-5 from three point range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. The freshman reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season.

Battle reached double digits for the fifth consecutive game and 12th time this season with 19 points and nine rebounds. The true freshman hit 9-of-11 shots and missed a double-double by two rebounds or less for the fourth time this season, Claggett and Brannen chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Gannon shot 56.3 percent (27-48) from the field, representing the team's second-highest percentage of the season. The figure includes a 60-percent (12-20) showing in the second half. The Golden Knights shot 50 percent (6-12) from three-point range and 76.2 percent (16-21) from the free throw line.

Jamar Harrison headlined the Clarion unit with 18 points and nine rebounds. Quintus “Bud” Teer added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Paul McQueen and Lloyd Harrison posted 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Clarion shot 37.7 percent (26-69) from the floor, 7.7 percent (1-13) from behind the arc and 73.7 percent (14-19) from the charity stripe.

Gannon improved to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in the PSAC Western Division while snapping a season-high three-game losing streak. Clarion dropped to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Golden Knights return to action Wednesday, February 2 at Slippery Rock. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.

For a complete box score from Saturday's Gannon-Clarion men's basketball game, please click here.