The Tiffin University men's basketball team dropped their season finale to Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday 88-86 in overtime. Tiffin had their chances, but just came up short as the Cardinals netted 48 of their 88 points in the paint.
If you like fast paced high scoring basketball, this was your game. Both sides were hot in the 1st half, as the Cardinals nailed 50% of their field goal attempts and Tiffin knocked in 46.2% of their attempts. The Dragons held the edge from the stripe in the opening half, going 8 for 8 while the Cardinals were 1 of 3. Jarrell Taylor's play off the bench was one of the reasons the Dragons were able to keep pace with SVSU. Taylor scored eight points with 3 of 4 shooting from the field. At the half, it was the Cardinals clinging to a 40-37 lead,
The Dragons' offense kept right on hitting from the field in the 2nd half, nailing 51.6% of their attempts from the field and 4 of 9 triples. The Cardinals slumped a bit from the field, connecting on only 42.4% of their attempts. Points in the paint became a major factor in the game, as SVSU held a 48-38 advantage in the game. With 16 seconds left the Dragons found themselves down a pair and with the ball. After a timeout, Tiffin's Terrell Mabins streaked to the bucket and lofted a shot that kissed the glass before falling into the net to tie the score at 78-78 and force overtime.
In the extra period it was just as competitive as the previous two halves. The free throw line came into play late in the game, with Tiffin going 4 of 6 and the Cardinals hitting 6 of 6 tries to defeat Tiffin 88-86.
TU was led by the double-double of Austin Adams with 19 points and 15 boards. Terrell Mabins netted 19 points on 6 of 13 shooting, and Alex Brown chipped in with 17 points and three boards. The final Dragon in double figures was Jarrell Taylor with 11 points.