PASCO, Wash. — Clark College opened Friday night's matchup with confidence and an early 11-point lead, but second-chance points and rebounding struggles proved costly as the Penguins fell 82–68 on the road at Columbia Basin.

Clark (6–2) came out firing, jumping ahead 15–4 behind a burst from Micah Gentry and Noah Tostovrsnik. Gentry knocked down back-to-back threes in the opening minutes, while Tostovrsnik repeatedly found seams in transition and around the rim. The Penguins dominated the paint early, scoring 22 first-half points at the rim.

But Columbia Basin countered with relentless offensive rebounding, finishing with a 47–31 advantage on the glass, including 21 offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points. The Hawks closed the first half strong to take a 40–32 edge into the break.

Clark twice tied the game in the first half and trimmed the deficit multiple times after the break, but Columbia Basin's ability to extend possessions and get to the free-throw line (17-of-24) kept the Penguins from mounting a final push.

Though the result breaks a four-game winning streak, Clark's efficient scoring inside (40 paint points) and strong guard play offer positives moving forward as conference play approaches.

The Penguins will look to bounce back in game two of the tournament tomorrow. 

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