TIFFIN, Ohio - Tiffin men's basketball trailed by just one at the half, but Missouri-St. Louis pulled away late to take an 80-67 win on Saturday night on day one of the GMAC-GLVC Crossover.
The Dragons outshot the Tritons from deep in the game, making 10 threes and shooting 34.5% compared to 25% for UMSL. Tiffin also had the advantage from the free throw line, converting 11-15 attempts (73.3%) while the Tritons took just five foul shots and made three.
Tiffin was also able to get out and run in transition, outscoring UMSL 15-9 in fast break points.
Jairus Stevens was the high scorer for TU on the night, tallying 17 points including 4-6 shooting from deep to go with four rebounds and a block.
Joshua Williams was the other Dragon in double figure scoring, recording 13 points including 6-7 from the charity stripe. Wesley Jordan added six boards down low, while Austin Schaub picked up a career-high four blocks along with eight points and five boards.
Williams got things going early for Tiffin, draining a three on the Dragons' opening possession. Schaub and Stevens followed with back-to-back triples as Tiffin went up 9-2 after just two minutes of action.
UMSL was able to quickly erase their deficit, though, taking a 14-13 lead at the 14:13 mark. Neither team would lead by more than five before the end of the half, with the Tritons going into the break up one at 40-39.
Tiffin tied things up early in the second period on a Schaub three, but five-straight UMSL points put the visitors back in front.
The Tritons slowly built their lead out to 10 with 7:09 remaining at 68-58. Tiffin mounted a bit of a comeback, in the form of a Josh Williams and-one and a Jordan jumper to cut the deficit to five.
The lead shrunk to four on a Josh Williams free throw with 2:37 left, but UMSL would score the last nine points of the game unanswered to take the 13-point win.
The Dragons will turn around and look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon when they take on Maryville on day two of the crossover. The Saints faced GMAC power Walsh in the first game today, falling to the Cavaliers 87-63.
