Toledo Edges Ball State in 67-66 Nailbiter

TOLEDO, Ohio – Isaiah Adams hit two free throws with 12.7 seconds remaining to give the Toledo men’s basketball team a 67-66 victory over Ball State on Tuesday night in Savage Arena. Adams finished with a game-high 18 points after coming off the bench for the first time this season.

The victory moved the Rockets (16-10, 9-4 MAC) a game within second-place Miami (19-7, 10-3 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference standings.

Ball State’s Jermahri Hill appeared to give the Cardinals the victory with a basket right before the buzzer. but officials waved it off following a video review.

QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK

“I thought we played our tails off regardless of the outcome of the game. Our backs were against the wall coming off two road losses. We just couldn’t score in the first half. I thought we played well defensively and then we made the right plays at the right time. It was a really close call at the end of the game. I feel awful for (Ball State Head Coach) Michael Lewis, who is a really good guy. I’m happy we won.”

GAME RECAP:

• FIRST HALF: The Rockets trailed the entire first half.  Ball State shot 50% from the field and held a 35-28 lead at the break. The Cardinals led by as many as 11 points in the opening 20 minutes. Sam Lewis topped UT offensively in the first half with 12 points.
  
   
• SECOND HALF: Toledo took its first lead of the game, 37-35, by opening the second half with nine straight points. The Rockets kept that advantage until Jermahri Hill’s layup put the visitors in front, 59-58, with 4:34 to play. With UT trailing 66-63, Bryce Ford’s jumper brought the Rockets within a point at the one-minute mark. Following a Ball State shot clock violation, Isaiah Adams converted two free throws with 12.7 seconds left. Hill made a runner in the lane at the buzzer, but the officials waved it off following a video review.

TEAM STATS
Toledo: 45.2 FG%, 21.4 3PTFG% (3-of-14), 66.7 FT% (8-of-12), 32 Reb., 13 Asst., 8 TO
Ball State: 48.9 FG%, 33.3 3PTFG% (5-of-15), 88.2 FT% (15-of-17), 30 Reb., 14 Asst., 13 TO

ROCKET LEADERS

Isaiah Adams: 18 pts., 3 asst.

Sonny Wilson: 12 pts., 5 reb., 3 asst.

Sam Lewis:  12 pts., 4 reb.

Javan Simmons, 9 pts., 9 reb.

ROCKET ROUNDUP

• Toledo is 6-0 in games decided by four points or less this season.
• The Rockets swept their season series vs. the Cardinals for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
• Toledo avoided its first three-game MAC losing streak in five years when it dropped five in row during the 2019-20 season.
• Isaiah Adams averaged 19.0 ppg in two games vs. Ball State this season.
• Sam Lewis and Sonny Wilson have each scored in double digits in 24 of 26 games this season.
• Javan Simmons grabbed a season-high seven offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT
Toledo will host Bowling Green (10-16, 4-9 MAC) on Friday, Feb. 21 at 6:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.