#5 Ferris State Chomps Dragons 99-83

The Dragons fall to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in GLIAC play with their 99-83 loss to #5 Ferris State University on Thursday night.
The Dragons fall to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in GLIAC play with their 99-83 loss to #5 Ferris State University on Thursday night.

The Tiffin University men's basketball team knew they would have to put together their best performance of the season to hang with the #5 team in the nation, and for a half they did just that. Tiffin led for a large portion of the 1st half, but the 2nd half was all Bulldogs as Tiffin fell 99-83.

The Dragons' defense gave the Bulldogs trouble in the 1st half, holding Ferris State to only 16 points at the midway point of the opening half. On the offensive end, it was tough sledding for the Dragons, but they were able to find the net enough to hold a 20-16 lead with 09:44 remaining. As the half progressed, the tide turned on Tiffin, and the Bulldogs used a 22-13 run to close out the half and lead 38-33.

Austin Adams nearly had a double-double in the 1st half, leading Tiffin with 13 points and 9 rebounds. As a team the Dragons hit only 37.5% of their shots from the field and only 2 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Dragons opened the 2nd half with a quick 8-3 run to tie the score at 41-41. That would be the last time Tiffin was close, as the Bulldogs boat raced the Dragons in the 2nd half, hitting nearly 70% of their field goal attempts and 58.3% of their shots from three. Tiffin's offense had no trouble finding the bottom of the net, nailing 19 of 33 shots; it was their defense that let them down. The Dragons have allowed 80 or more points in five of their first six games this season, and the 99 surrendered to Ferris State is the 2nd most allowed this year. Offensively, Tiffin has scored 80 or more points in three straight games, pouring in 83 against the Bulldogs.

All five starters scored in double figures for Tiffin, with Austin Adams leading the pack with 18. Adams was held without a rebound in the 2nd half, falling just short of a double-double with 9 boards. Freshman Justin Miller continues to impress, scoring all 16 of his points in the 2nd half on 7 of 10 shooting. Alex Brown filled the box score with 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds. Shane Waldon poured in 14 points and Austin Schaub finished with 12 points and five assists.

Tiffin falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in GLIAC play. The Dragons will be back in action on Saturday, tangling with the Lake Superior State Lakers on the road.