Dragons prepare for return to conference playoffs

Ian Lopez and the Dragons are returning to the conference playoffs for the first time in 21 years.
Ian Lopez and the Dragons are returning to the conference playoffs for the first time in 21 years.
Posted: Feb 27, 2023

For the first time in 21 years, Tiffin University's men's basketball team is returning to the conference playoffs.

The Dragons (15-13, 12-8 G-MAC) will enter as the 4th seed and take on 5th-seeded Malone (16-10, 11-9 G-MAC) at 6 pm in the Gillmor Center. Cost is $10 per ticket.

Tickets - https://www.gotiffindragons.com/information/athletic-info/Ticket_sales

Live video - https://www.gotiffindragons.com/links/jl13t0

Live stats - https://www.gotiffindragons.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/boxscores/20230228_kbxx.xml

The Dragons are looking to reach the G-MAC semifinals for the first time in school history. To get there they will need to beat the Pioneers, who they last faced on Jan. 19 at home. TU posted a narrow 82-76 victory that night, with Joshua Rivers leading five in double figures with 24 points. TU held a 9-point lead at halftime and also ended up with a 17-3 edge at the free throw line.

In their history, TU has a 25-62 record against Malone including 1-7 since 2018. But like much of the Dragons' 2022-23 season, the history book appears to be in the process of being rewritten.

For the first time in 10 years, the Dragons defeated Findlay in a pivotal conference matchup that had huge playoff and postseason hosting implications, and their win against Malone was their first since 2016. 

Tiffin's 12 conference wins are the most conference victories in program history, and their current record guarantees them a winning record for the first time since 2011-12 (15-14).

Wesley Jordan leads the Dragons with 13.1 ppg and 5.1 rebounds while Rivers follows with 12.9 and Carius Key has 11.4. Morgan Taylor averages 9.1 ppg, with Ian Lopez (8.5) and Trent Williams (7.9) also posing a scoring threat, especially from long range.

Justin Miller leads the Pioneers with 19.6 ppg followed by Bo Myers at 18.1 ppg and 8.1 rebounds and Levi Seiler at 12.6 ppg and 6.2 rebounds. Miller and Myers rank 1-2 in the G-MAC in scoring.

Malone also has the second-best offense in the conference at 79 ppg while the Dragons have the fourth-best defense allowing just 68.9 ppg.