TIFFIN, Ohio - For the second straight year, Tiffin gave Findlay all it could handle at the Gillmor Center in an overtime thriller.
The Dragons rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to take a six point lead late, but the Oilers responded and took control in overtime as Tiffin (2-6, 0-4) fell to second-ranked Findlay (9-0, 3-0) 93-85 in overtime Thursday night (Dec. 16).
Junior Keenan Barlow had a career game with 28 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. Junior Travis Spahr chipped in 14 while freshman Richard Morrow added 14 points off the bench. Junior Karl Finley managed 10 points, but he was a force inside, leading the team with eight rebounds and four blocks.
It was the second game of the season that Finley contributed four blocks.
Greg Kahlig led Findlay with 28 points off the bench, Nathan Hyde had 17 points while Kyle Caiola added 14. Brad Piehl added a double-double with 14 points and 12 boards.
Leading by nine at the half, the Oilers lead grew to 15 on a Kahlig three-pointer with 12:58 remaining in the ballgame. Barlow jumpstarted a quick 7-2 run by TU with a three and two free throws and a dunk by Morrow. With the deficit down to 10, both teams traded baskets until a three-point play the hard way pushed Findlay to a 64-51 lead with 8:48 left. A tip-in and layup by Tiffin's Spahr got the game back to single digits. A pair from the charity stripe by UF pushed it back to 11, but back-to-back treys by Barlow and freshman Joe Graessle cut the Findlay advantage to five.
Tiffin climbed all the way back and took the lead with 3:36 left with a Barlow three and a fastbreak lay-up by Morrow while being fouled. Morrow made the ensuing layup and gave Tiffin its first advantage since the opening minutes of the game. Hyde gave Findlay the narrow 73-72 lead with a pair of free throws but a jumper by Barlow and another layup and the ensuing free throw put Tiffin's advantage at four. Another defensive stop and a pair of free throws by Spahr pushed the TU advantage to its largest, 80-74, with 1:17 left. However, a Findlay 6-0 run to end the second period forced overtime for the second straight contest between the two rivals.
The Oilers added five points to begin the overtime, but senior Brian Scott answered for Tiffin with a pair of free throws and a three with 1:51 left. UF took the lead for good 37 seconds later with a layup by Hyde and the Oilers closed the game 6-for-6 from the line for the final point spread.
Tiffin returns to action Saturday (Dec. 18) when it hosts Wayne State. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
