TU nips Eckerd 74-72 in thriller

Jordan scored 13 points and five rebounds in the win against Eckerd.
Jordan scored 13 points and five rebounds in the win against Eckerd.

The Tiffin University men's basketball team beat Eckerd University 74-72 in a nail-biter as four Dragons hit double-digit points for the fourth game in a row.

Tiffin's offense started early with a 7-0 run to start the game, but the Tritons rallied back with a 10-3 run to tie the game at 10-10. Tiffin slowly pulled away from Eckerd and built up a nine-point lead at 23-14 with 8:34 left in the first half.

The Tritons went on a 6-0 run to come within three of Tiffin at 23-20 at the 5:58 mark. After trading buckets to bring the score to 28-24 the Dragons were locked in and outscored the Tritons 13-4 to end the first half on a 6-0 run and take a 41-28 lead into the second half.

Out of halftime, the Tritons went on an 11-2 run to bring the score to 43-39. Eckerd cut the deficit down to a two-point game until the Dragons went on a 7-2 run to lead 53-46 with 11:39 left in the half. The Tritons outscored the Dragons 8-0 run to take a 54-53 lead, their first of the game.

After both teams traded buckets the game was tied at 63-63 until the Dragons scored two quick buckets to lead 68-63 with 2:39 left. The Dragons were able to hold that lead until the final minute of play when the Tritons made a three-point play to come within two of Tiffin, but time ran out for the host as the Dragons won 74-72.

The Dragons had four players in double digits for the fourth straight game. The Dragons' offense was led by Tanner Johnson with 18 points shooting 6-for-14 from three-point range, five rebounds, and three assists, Wesley Jordan scored 13 points shooting 4-for-6 from the field, grabbed five rebounds, had one block and one assist, Morgan Taylor tallied 12 points shooting 6-for-9 from the field, three rebounds, and two assists, and Trent Williams had 11 points shooting 3-for-9 from beyond the arc, three rebounds, and one assist.