The Tiffin University men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with the Ashland University Eagles on Monday night, but Ashland's efficiency from beyond the arc was too much for TU to overcome.
The Dragons were playing catch up from 12 seconds in. Tiffin stayed within striking distance, fighting back to tie the game with a thundering dunk from Austin Adams. The score stayed close, with the Eagles taking a slim four point lead before Tiffin tied the game at 16-16 with an Adams' 3-pointer. Tiffin had chances to take the lead, but were unsuccessful in doing so. Boo Osborne kept Ashland one step ahead, hitting three 3-pointers in the 1st half. The Eagles pushed their lead to its largest at the 05:10 mark, holding a 33-26 advantage. Tiffin rebounded and, once again, tied the game for the seventh time at 39-39. A Ben Haraway free throw at the very end of the half allowed the Eagles to carry a 40-39 lead to the half.
Tiffin began the 2nd half with a alley-oop to Austin Adams, bringing the capacity crowd to their feet, and giving Tiffin its first lead at 41-40. Ashland never flinched, using an 14-3 run to take a 54-44 lead at the 12:37 mark. Ashland kept building their lead, twice holding a 19 point advantage. Tiffin hit only two 3-pointers in the 2nd half, and the Eagles poured in five more to bring their game total to 10. Tiffin made a late run, but it wasn't enough, falling 85-74.
Austin Adams led the Dragons, scoring 23 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Khaleal McCormick added 15 points, and Juwan Johnson chipped in with 13 points.
The Dragons fall to 9-12 overall and 5-9 in GLIAC play.