TIFFIN, Ohio -  The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team fell 84-63 to Tiffin University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest today (Dec. 1).

Freshman Sterling Johnson (Detroit, Mich. / De La Salle HS) would give Saginaw Valley (3-2, 1-1 GLIAC) its first lead over Tiffin (3-3, 1-1 GLIAC) since the two teams were tied 6-6 early in the contest on a three-point basket with 5:20 to play in the first.

SVSU entered the locker room trailing the Dragons by a score of 32-25. Meijer "Player of the Game" Chris Webb (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill HS) led the Cardinals with six points in the half, while Jay Thames (Port Huron, Mich.) and Johnson each added five points.  Saginaw Valley shot 11-of-30 (37 percent) from the floor and 2-of-9 (22 percent) from behind the three-point line in the first half.   

Freshman Stone Beckwith (Mt. Pleasant, Mich. / Beal City HS) connected on his third triple of the season to bring the Cardinals within six at 36-30 with just 15:14 to play in the game.  The six point gap would be as close as Saginaw Valley would get in the second half as the Dragons extended their lead to 21 points as they went on to win by a score of 84-63. 

Webb led all Cardinals in scoring with 20 points, while Brett Beland (Menominee, Mich.) and Beckwith each added nine in the contest.  Senior forward Rob Clark (Saginaw, Mich.) pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while Matt Burgess (Capac, Mich.) and Beckwith each grabbed six.  Saginaw Valley finished the game 22-of-60 (37 percent) from the floor and 10-of-28 (36 percent) from behind the arc for the game. The Cardinals would also drop the battle of boards to the Dragons 34-33, but would hold a 13-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Cardinals will return to action next Saturday (Dec. 8) when they welcome Ashland University to O'Neill Arena for a 1:00 PM tip.