The Tiffin University men's basketball team (2-5) used a 16-0 run late in the first half to pull away from the visiting Penn State Fayette Nittany Lions and dominated the second half en route to a 101-57 win inside the Gillmor Center Tuesday evening.
The night for the Dragons started with a three-pointer by Michael Lucarotti. The Nittany Lions were able to hang in early on and a dunk by Jonah Nesmith gave the Dragons a 14-8 lead at the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Nittany Lions scored the next six to tie it and took their first lead of the game, 17-16, following a three-pointer by Zachary Hill.
After a few possessions ended in missed layups for the Dragons, TU regained the lead following a layup by D'monyae Davis and Tiffin controlled the game for the rest of the evening. A layup brought the Nittany Lions within six, 32-26, and the Dragons distanced themselves with a 16-0 run that was jumpstarted with a layup by KJ Pruitt. The run lasted 4:27 and the Dragons led 50-32 at the break.
A fastbreak layup by Dekyre Fuller gave the Dragons a 20-point lead early in the second half and TU continued to build on that lead throughout the second half as the Nittany Lions struggled shooting from the floor during the second period.
The layup from Fuller initiated an 8-0 run for Fuller himself as the Dragons held a 60-34 advantage with 16:39 remaining in the game. The Dragons again used another scoring run, this time 9-0 to lead 76-39 with 12:23 left. At the 6:31 mark, a three by Lucarotti gave the Dragons a 93-46 lead, which was their biggest of the game.
The Dragons dominated the game in every facet. TU finished the game 55 percent from the floor while the Nittany Lions shot just 32 percent. The Dragons had a 50-30 advantage in paint points, outscored the Lions' bench 44-21, and dominated on the boards, holding a +25 advantage (53-28).
Five Dragons finished in doubles figures led by Fuller's 19 points. Lucarotti and Nesmith finished with 15 and 14, respectively, while Jacob Pleiman had 13 and Caleb Bates had 10.
Bates was a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Pruitt finished with five points, four steals, and a team-high eight assists. Davis finished with seven points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Allen Fordham finished just shy of double figures, ending the night with nine points. DJ Gooden chipped in with five points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
The Dragons continue their homestand as they welcome Ashland to the Gillmor Center on Saturday, December 7. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and it's the G-MAC opener for Tiffin.
