The Tiffin University men's basketball team (0-3) lost their third straight game to begin the season, falling to Kentucky State 79-72 on Wednesday night at the William Exum Center in Kentucky.  

Both teams were cold from the floor to begin the game but the Dragons got back-to-back threes from Allen Fordham and Jacob Pleiman to give TU an 11-8 lead with 12:42 remaining in the first half.  

The Dragons were then able to expand their lead and led 24-14 following a 13-4 run with 6:31 left in the half. Tiffin seemed to be in control following the run but turnovers and missed shots allowed Kentucky State to get back into it. The Thorobreds closed the final 5:56 of the half on a 14-5 run to take a 30-29 lead into the break.  

Kentucky State scored the first four points of the second half to extend their lead to five, but Caleb Bates knocked down back-to-back threes to put Tiffin on top 35-34 with 17:44 remaining.  

A jump shot by Dekyre Fuller gave Tiffin a 39-38 lead 16:11 remaining in the game and the Thorobreds would lead the rest of the game as they went on a 9-0 run over a four-minute span. The Dragons continued to fight back but KSU seemingly had an answer every time TU made a run. Tiffin cut it to five multiple times throughout the remainder of the game but could not get any closer.  

KJ Pruitt finished with a team-high 13 points and Bates finished with 12. Both Fuller and Jonah Nesmith finished with 10 points and Fuller grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.  

Tiffin got 27 bench points compared to KSU's 15, but the Thorobreds did most of their damage in the paint, scoring 40 and KSU also accumulated 18 fastbreak points compared to only four by the Dragons.  

Up Next for the Dragons is a neutral site game against Indiana (Pa) on Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be played at Kates Gymnasium on the campus of Ashland University.