TIFFIN, Ohio - After trailing by double digits early, Tiffin men's basketball cut the deficit to just four at halftime, but Lake Erie pulled away late in the second-half for an 87-76 win on Saturday.
Prior to the game, the Dragons honored their five seniors in Austin Adams, Terrell Mabins, Luke Rightnowar, Hunter Schmalz, and Shane Waldon.
Tiffin shot better at both the three-point line and the free throw stripe in the game, but the difference was in the paint as Lake Erie went 50% to TU's 40% and outscored the Dragons 62-34 in the key.
Joshua Williams led TU with 16 points and five boards off the bench, while Waldon added 15 points and Adams 14 points and nine boards. Thomas Hickman also contributed eight points and a career-high seven assists for the Dragons.
The Storm jumped out to an early lead, and led by about five points for much of the first 12 minutes of the game. At the 5:10 mark, though, Lake Erie had extended their lead to 14, 37-23 as Lamont Rhodes converted an and-one dunk in transition.
A jumper from Waldon would ignite a Dragon comeback, however, as they scored 13 of the next 15 points. After Waldon's bucket, Schmalz and Williams hit back-to-back layups followed by a triple from Adams. Williams backed that up with a three of his own, and a Schmalz free throw capped the run and cut the deficit to just three, 39-36, with 43 seconds remaining in the half.
Lake Erie would add a free throw before the halftime buzzer and went into the break up by four.
Tiffin's momentum continued into the second period, though, as they tied the game at 48 four minutes into the half on a three from Austin Schaub.
However, the Storm responded with a quick 9-2 run to go up 57-50 at the 13:01 mark.
Lake Erie's lead slowly crept up to double-digits, and the Dragons were unable to go on a late run as the Storm held on for the 11-point win.
The Dragons will finish their season next weekend with games at Alderson Broaddus on Thursday and Davis & Elkins Saturday.