The Tiffin University men's basketball team (0-1) was ice cold from the floor Friday night in their season opener and ultimately suffered a 69-45 defeat to McKendree on a neutral floor.

The Dragons got off to a good start as Caleb Bates started the game with a three and overall the Dragons held a 10-5 lead five minutes in following two free throws by Allen Fordham.  

A three by Jacob Pleiman still kept TU in front, 15-11. Following two free throws by McKendree, neither team scored a point for the next five minutes. A jumper by Michael Lucarotti put the Dragons back on top 19-18 with 5:51 remaining in the half and the Dragons would not score for the remainder of the half. TU missed their final six shot attempts of the half, but McKendree wasn't lighting up the scoreboard either and could only manage seven points over the final 5:51 which led to the Bearcats taking a 25-19 lead into the break. 

McKendree maintained their lead in the second half as the Dragons were still struggling to put the ball through the hoop. A bucket by Pleiman made it 39-30 with 12:28 remaining in the game and the Dragons would trail by double digits the rest of the game as the Bearcats started to heat up from the floor. McKendree went on a 15-2 run to expand their lead to 22 and led by as many as 27 in the game.  

Tiffin made seven field goals in each half, shooting 24 percent in the first and 31 percent in the second half to finish the game 27.5 percent from the field. McKendree was 29 percent from the field in the first half and then heated up, shooting 48 percent in the second half.  

The Dragons were outrebounded 42-31 in the game. 

Bates was the only double-digit scorer, finishing with a team-high 11. Pleiman added nine and Lucarotti chipped in with eight points.  

The Dragons play host Lewis University tomorrow at 4:15 p.m. eastern to wrap up opening weekend.