SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Senior guard Alex Jones and red-shirt sophomore center Derrick Graff combined for 48 points on Saturday afternoon, but the Shippensburg men's basketball team could not withstand the offensive outburst of the Clarion Golden Eagles, dropping an 89-80 decision inside Tippin Gymnasium.

Shippensburg (6-13, 0-4 PSAC West) remained with the hosts for the majority of the game and trailed by just four points at halftime, 43-39. Jones raced out to 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from behind the three-point line in the opening 20 minutes.

Graff, meanwhile, totaled 15 of his 21 points in the first half, and has now totaled double figures in nine of his last 10 games. It is the second 20-point game in his career, as the red-shirt sophomore set a career-high with 24 points in the victory over Millersville on January 6.

The Red Raiders shot 44.9 percent from the field in the game, including 14 from freshman guard Justin Minter. The Golden Eagles, however, shot 59.3 percent from the field, including 60.7 percent in the second half.

Clarion (10-8, 2-2 PSAC West) was propelled by freshman guard Mike Sherry, who erupted for 30 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including 8-of-10 from three-point range. Senior forward Ricky Henderson continued his strong play for the Golden Eagles, adding 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds.

Shippensburg never led in the second half and trailed by as many as 13 points, but cut its deficit to just one possession six times over the final eight minutes of the game. The Red Raiders were within one point of Clarion with four minutes remaining, trailing 75-74, but could not hold off the Golden Eagles to take the lead.

The Red Raiders will continue their five-game road trip on Wednesday when they travel to Indiana University (Pa.). Game time with the Crimson Hawks is set for 8 p.m.

- Red Raider Basketball -