TIFFIN, Ohio - Two days after coming back from a double-digit deficit against Northern Michigan, the Dragons lost their own 18-point lead.
TU jumped out to a 30-12 lead in the first half, but the Fighting Tigers cut the deficit to five by the intermission and hung around until a late push as Tiffin (3-10) fell to Salem International (7-5) 91-88 Tuesday night in Tiffin's final non-conference home game.
Freshman Joe Graessle recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Junior Keenan Barlow led the team with 15 points. Karl Finley added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Brian Scott added 13 points off the bench while junior Travis Spahr contributed 12.
Brandon Harris came off the bench with 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks.
Salem International's Demetrick Walker led all scorers with 20 points and Kenneth McCornell came off the bench for 18. Allen Boyd contributed 16 points.
In a sign of things to come, Walker nailed a three to open up the scoring for the Fighting Tigers, but Graessle went on a 7-0 run by his lonesome with a three and a four-point play. Barlow added the next bucket and put Tiffin up 9-3 less than two minutes into the game. Walker brought Salem within 12-10 two minutes later with a three ball, but Tiffin went on an 18-2 run thanks to six points from Finley and two thunderous dunks to put the home team up 30-12. However, Salem International's McCornell hit a pair of threes and ignited a run which saw the visitors pull within 36-33 with 7:44 left in the half. Tiffin was up seven with eight seconds left, but a pair from the stripe for McCornell right before half cut the Tiffin lead to 53-48 at the break.
The Salem defense was ratcheted up in the second half and the visitors forced 11 turnovers to keep within striking distance of Tiffin. Trailing 80-75, Emile Payne and Boyd hit jumpers to cut the deficit to one. Scott split a pair from the line for Tiffin, but an old-time three pointer gave Salem International its first lead since the opening minutes. The Fighting Tigers made 6-of-8 from the line in the closing minutes to hold on for the 91-88 win.
Tiffin returns to action Saturday when it hosts nationally-ranked Hillsdale. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
