After picking up their first conference victory last weekend, the Dragons return home to host GMAC powers Hillsdale and Findlay this week.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (7-8, 1-4 GMAC) vs
Hillsdale Chargers (8-5, 4-0 GMAC)
Thursday, Jan. 9 | 7:30 p.m.
Tiffin, Ohio | Gillmor Center
Video | Live Stats
Tiffin Dragons (7-8, 1-4 GMAC) vs
Findlay Oilers (8-5, 3-1 GMAC)
Saturday, Jan. 11 | 3:00 p.m.
Tiffin, Ohio | Gillmor Center
Video | Live Stats
Dragon Details:
Tiffin started 2020 off right with a 92-82 win at Ohio Valley last Saturday as three Dragons finished with over 20 points in the victory.
The Dragons are currently second in the conference in scoring to Walsh, averaging 84.6 points per game. Tiffin also crashes the boards effectively, ranking fifth with 37.9 rebounds per game including second with 11.3 offensive boards per game. The Dragons are also tops in the GMAC with a 3.87 turnover margin, second with 8.47 steals per game, and third with 3.27 blocks per outing.
TU has a pair of players in the GMAC top-10 in scoring, led by Jairus Stevens in fourth at 17.7 points per game while also ranking seventh with 7.5 rebounds per game. Joshua Williams is seventh with 16.2 points per game and second with 1.9 steals per game to lead the Dragon backcourt. A pair of impressive freshman also average double figure scoring in Wesley Jordan (10.9) and Trent Williams (10.8).
Scouting the Chargers:
Hillsdale had an up-and-down nonconference showing, but is off to a great start in GMAC action with a perfect 4-0 record that includes wins over Alderson Broaddus, Ohio Valley, Findlay, and Lake Erie. On par with tradition, the Charger defense is very stingy, leading the conference by allowing just 64.3 points per game to opponents.
In the last matchup between the Chargers and Dragons on Jan. 31 of last season, Tiffin suffered a narrow road defeat, 81-76, after holding a two-point halftime lead. Davis Larson is the top Hillsdale returner from the game, scoring 14 points in the win. Josh Williams had 13 for the Dragons.
Larson now leads Hillsdale this season at 15.1 points per game, followed closely by Patrick Cartier at 14.4 points per game and Dylan Lowry at 14.0 points per outing. Cartier is also first in the conference with a 66.4% field goal percentage.
Scouting the Oilers:
Findlay opened the season by dropping four of their first five games, but have since gone 7-1 over their last eight with the only defeat coming to Hillsdale. The Oilers are 3-1 in conference play, earning wins over Lake Erie, Alderson Broaddus, and Ohio Valley. As a team, the Oilers are second in the conference with a +9.6 scoring margin, ranking fourth in points per game and third in points allowed per contest.
Findlay's offense was too much for Tiffin in the last meeting between the local rivals, as the Oilers earned a 110-85 win on Feb. 2 of last season. Seven Oilers scored in double figures, while Thomas Hickman led TU with 18 points off the bench.
Tommy Schmock is doing it all from the guard position for the Oilers, leading the team with 11.4 points per game while ranking third in the conference with a 45.8% three point percentage, first with 6.9 assists per game, second with a 3.0 assist-turnover ratio, and first with 3.2 steals per game. Findlay has three other players averaging between 10 and 11 points per game, including Aaron Overhiser with 11.1 points per game and a team-leading 6.5 boards per game.