TIFFIN, Ohio - Junior Joe Graessle scored 47 points as the Tiffin University men's basketball team (6-10, 3-8 GLIAC) fell 90-85 to Malone (8-6, 6-5 GLIAC), Thursday evening at the Gillmor Center.

The first half was one of runs. After a 2-2 tie, Tiffin reeled off nine straight points. Following a Malone basket, Graessle drove the lane and scored to make it 13-4, Dragons at the 16:02 mark.

The Pioneers then went on a 24-6 outburst. Isiah Elliott hit a pair of free throws. That made it 28-19, MU with 7:25 to go.

TU refused to quit and came marching back. Cody Dennison drained a triple to tie the game at 33 with 1:29 to go. Malone hit a late jumper to lead by three at the half.

The second half was back and forth for the first 15 minutes. Graessle hit a free throw to give the Dragons a 71-70 lead with 4:13 to go. The Pioneers scored eight straight points to lead by seven at the 2:38 mark.

TU chipped away and freshman Eric Roby hit a free throw to make it 84-82, MU with 22 seconds to go. Malone then hit six straight free throws to seal the game.

For Tiffin, Graessle had 47 points, six assists and five steals while hitting 18-of-29 from the floor and 6-of-9 from behind the arc. His points were second best in school history. Roby had 10 and Dennison scored 10 points with 10 assists.

For Malone, Elliott and Che Richardson scored 27 points each.

Tiffin hits the road, Saturday, Jan. 19, when they play Walsh. The game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. Live Stats will be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/walsh/

-TIFFIN UNIVERSITY-