Tiffin University gets back on the hardcourt with a road trip to Cedarville to kick off 2021, the first of three road contests as the season looks to kick into high gear.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (2-1, 2-1 GMAC) at
Cedarville Yellow Jackets (0-1, 0-1 GMAC)
Saturday, Jan. 2 | 3:00 p.m.
Video | Live Stats
Dragon Details:
Tiffin looks to bounce back after its first setback of the season, a 89-74 road defeat at Findlay. Previously the Dragons had dispatched Ohio Dominican 83-62 and Ohio Valley 123-107. They currently sit in 3rd place early in the GMAC season, which has seen numerous postponements due to Covid protocols. Six teams have played two games or fewer so far this season, with three teams as yet to start their seasons.
The Dragons have been potent on offense so far, averaging 93.3 ppg to place second in the GMAC. They are also third in field goal percentage (.484) and second in three point percentage (.402). The Dragons' 123 points against OVU was the most they have scored in the Division II era.
The Dragons have five players averaging in double figures, with Jaeden King enjoying a strong start to his debut season. King is 4th in the GMAC in scoring with 20.7 ppg and is second in three pointers per game with 3.7. Wesley Jordan is also displaying a strong all around game, averaging 14.3 ppg with 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Trent Williams is totaling 13.0 ppg while Thomas Hickman is at 12.7 ppg. The duo are a double threat from the wing, as Williams is averaging 6.3 assists and Hickman 5.0 assists per contest. Tanner Johnson is also off to a good start, averaging 11.3 ppg with 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 treys per game (3rd in the GMAC). Braxton Foreman is also amongs team leaders with 5.3 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets:
Cedarville has had to be patient during the start of its 2020-21 season, as they have only been able to get in one game. In total, an exhibition at Dayton was cancelled and three GMAC contests on the schedule at Ohio Dominican and Walsh and at home against Lake Erie were postponed due to COVID-19.
In Cedarville's lone game this season, they fell to Ohio Valley 102-95 in a game in which they played without four of their starters. The Yellow Jackets are expected to be one of the top GMAC teams, as they were picked second in the preseason poll. They missed the top spot by one point 90-89 to Findlay.
Last year the Yellow Jackets finished 18-11 overall and 13-5 in the G-MAC. Junior guard Branden Maughmer leads the team after earning NCCAA All-America Second Team and All-G-MAC First Team honors. Teammates Quinton Green and Kollin Van Horn were also All-G-MAC Second Team selections, while senior forward Conner TenHove, a two-time All-NCCAA Midwest Region player and the 2019 NCCAA National Tournament Most Outstanding Player, is another notable returnee.