The Tiffin University men's basketball team fell at Cleveland State on Monday night 89-67 in an exhibition for both teams.
Early in the 1st half, it looked as if the Vikings may run away with the game, scoring the first 13 points of the contest. Tiffin found the bottom of the net with a Tony Kynard three point bucket to make it 13-3. The Vikings held a double digit lead for the majority of the 1st half, but Tiffin crept closer, pulling to within eight points three different times. Cleveland State extended their lead to as much as 16 points on 48% shooting, but Tiffin cut the lead to 43-33 just before the halftime buzzer.
At the break, the Dragons were shooting 46% from the field, 37.5% from beyond the arc, and were 6-6 from the free throw line. Tony Kynard led the Dragons with 11 points on 3 of 6 shooting. The Cleveland State defensive pressure forced 13 Tiffin turnovers in the half, aiding their 43 point first half.
In the first five minutes of the 2nd half, Tiffin kept the game within 13 points, once again cutting the deficit to eight points. The Vikings kept the defensive pressure on Tiffin, forcing 12 turnovers in the 2nd half, and extended their lead to 15 points at the 13:37 mark. The Dragons got a layup from Austin Adams to trim the Vikings' lead to 11 points, but that would be as close as Tiffin would come. The Vikings took advantage of the Tiffin turnovers, scoring 35 points off Tiffin's miscues. The Vikings' perimeter shooting led to four made three pointers, as Tiffin was unable to net a long range bucket in the 2nd half.
As a team, Tiffin shot 41.5% from the field, 76.9% from the free throw line, but hit only 3 of 13 three point attempts. The Dragons did an excellent job on the glass, outrebounding Cleveland State 42-32.
Individually, Tony Kynard finished with a team high 16 points, including a 9 for 10 performance from the charity stripe. Alex Brown finished with 15 points and 8 boards, and Austin Adams came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 8 rebounds.
Tiffin will begin the regular season this Friday in the GMAC/GLIAC Challenge, matching up with Alderson-Broaddus at 5:00 pm in Owensboro, Kentucky.