Hot Start Not Enough as Dragons Fall to Panthers on Senior Day

Hot Start Not Enough as Dragons Fall to Panthers on Senior Day

TIFFIN, Ohio - Tiffin men's basketball looked excellent in the first half on Senior Day against Kentucky Wesleyan, taking an 11-point lead into the break, but the Panthers rallied to defeat the Dragons 79-76 on Saturday afternoon.

Tiffin honored seniors Austin Schaub and Jarell Taylor prior to the game, and both had good games in their final showing in a Dragon uniform. Schaub was perfect from the field and free-throw line, scoring eight points, while Taylor recorded a season-high 11 points with three triples and three rebounds.

Wesley Jordan led the Dragons in scoring with 14 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Jairus Stevens also narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine boards, and Trent Williams was also in double figures with 12 points and four assists.

Tiffin shot well from the field at 47.4%, but KWC was slightly better at an even 50% clip. The Dragons had a big advantage on the break, 15-3, and took great care of the ball with just 10 turnovers.

The Dragons led by as many as 16 in the first half when Wesley Jordan made a jumper to extend the lead to 36-20 with 2:44 remaining in the period, but the Panthers made a few baskets in the final minute to go into the break down 38-27.

Tiffin's lead was still in double-digits after Brevin Brimble knocked down a triple with 10:30 left that put TU up 60-48. KWC responded with a 15-2 run, however, to take a 63-62 win with just over five minutes to play.

Eric Turner momentarily quelled the run with a triple to put Tiffin back on top, but the Panthers then hit three treys in a row to take a seven-point lead that they would not relinquish.

The Dragons finish the 2019-20 season with a 2-16 mark in GMAC play and 8-20 overall.