TIFFIN, Ohio - Leading the team in scoring all season, freshman Joe Graessle must have taken offense to junior Karl Finley taking over that title after the Dragons' win over Northwood Saturday (Jan. 22).
Despite Graessle's four treys in a two-minute span and five for the game, Finley was able to hit all four shots taken from beyond the arc and outscore the freshman 26-25.
Finley recorded his first double-double of his collegiate career with 26 points and a career-best 13 rebounds while Graessle added 25 points on 8-16 shooting from the field in Tiffin's (5-14, 3-9) 84-65 win over visiting Saginaw Valley State.
Tiffin did a number on the glass, grabbing a season-high 54 rebounds while holding Saginaw Valley State to only 32 boards. In fact, the Dragons grabbed more offensive rebounds (36) than the Cardinals had total.
To just highlight the duo's scoring prowess would be a disservice. Junior Keenan Barlow added 13 points and five boards. Junior Brandon Harris, making his second start of the season, added six points, seven boards and three rejections, two of which helped the Dragons hold serve when Tiffin got off to a slow start on the offensive end in the game's opening minutes.
After the visitors were able to capture some momentum with a tip-in to climb back within 30-24 with 6:28 left in the first half, Graessle decided it was his turn to turn it on for the crowd. Starting with a three just behind the line, Tiffin got a stop and Graessle stepped out a little further and buried a three to quickly double the TU lead. A Saginaw Valley timeout proved useless, as the Cardinals missed a three and Graessle came down to the other end and made an even deeper trey. Finley added a pair from the line to "slow" down Graessle. However, the freshman was undeterred, hitting a shot about 36 feet out to cap a Tiffin 14-0 run over 2:17. The Cardinals were able to slow down the TU offense over the final three minutes of the half, but Graessle alertly threw up a three when the defender was reaching with 14 seconds before half. Tiffin held and led 51-30 going into break.
Saginaw Valley State was able to cut it to 59-47 with 9:27 left, but Tiffin countered with another 9-2 punch. Finley was able to nail a three followed by a Harris layup. The Cardinals countered with a layup of their own, but a Harris layup and Graessle jumper pushed the lead back out to 19. Saginaw Valley State was able to hit a few threes to get back within 73-60 and apply some pressure with 4:27 left, but redshirt freshman Devin Russell added a layup and Harris added a monster dunk while being harmed to push the TU advantage back to 17. Freshman Mike Brown even got into the act with a tip-in to put Tiffin back up 21. The Dragons closed the game and won by 19, the largest win since a 41-point drubbing of Houghton College more than five years ago.
Tiffin looks to win the season series over its cross-divisional foes Saturday when it hosts Lake Superior State Saturday at 1 p.m. Tiffin knocked off the Lakers last season when they visited the Gillmor Center, 89-83.
