ATHENS, Ohio – Six Rockets scored in double figures to lead the Toledo men’s basketball team to a key road win on Tuesday evening, an 86-83 triumph at Ohio. The victory pushed the Rockets (12-8, 6-2 MAC) a game ahead of the Bobcats (11-9, 5-3 MAC) into third place and kept UT within striking distance of first-place Akron (15-5, 8-0 MAC).
It was the Rockets’ seventh-straight win over the Bobcats as well as their seventh-consecutive win in Athens.
“Tonight was a high-level game where both teams played really well,” said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. “This is a tough place to play. We had to weather a storm after they came back and took the lead after halftime. We had a lot of different guys step up. This is a game we can learn from and build on.”
Bryce Ford, Seth Hubbard, Sam Lewis and Sonny Wilson each tallied 15 points for the Rockets, while Isaiah Adams and Javan Simmons chipped in 10 points apiece.
Toledo shot 53.1% from the field and 43.8% (7-of-16) from three-point range. Ohio converted 44.9% of its shots and was 42.1% (8-of-19) behind the three-point arc.
Hubbard and Simmons topped Toledo with nine and eight rebounds, respectively, to help the Rockets to a 40-33 advantage on the glass.
Three different Rockets – Adams, Hubbard and Simmons – each tallied a team-high four assists, while Adams and Jaylan Ouwinga blocked two shots apiece.
AJ Brown and Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio with 22 points apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
- Toledo’s 7-0 lead start to the game was answered by a 13-2 Bobcat spurt.
- The Rockets rallied and took a 23-22 lead on Seth Hubbard’s three-point play at the 12-minute mark.
- Elmore James’ three-pointer put Ohio back in front, 28-25, less than two minutes later.
- Three-pointers from Bryce Ford and Sonny Wilson keyed an 8-0 spurt that put Toledo ahead 38-31and forced Ohio to call timeout 4:15 before halftime.
- Wilson extended the Rockets’ lead to 45-35 with a layup at the 1:35 mark.
- Toledo led by a 47-39 margin at halftime.
- Seth Hubbard led UT with 15 points with shooting 59.4% from the field.
SECOND HALF
- Ohio fought right back with a 10-0 spurt to open the second half and take a 49-47 lead.
- Sam Lewis’ three-pointer ended the run at the 15:52 mark and gave UT a 50-49 advantage.
- The Rockets held that lead for four minutes when Ajay Sheldon’s layup put Ohio ahead, 62-61.
- Wilson then scored four points during a 6-0 spurt for a 67-62 cushion that Toledo wouldn’t relinquish.
- Ohio then closed to within a point. 70-69, on AJ Brown’s three-pointer with 7:16 to play, but Isaiah Adams answered with a triple of his own.
- Adams came up with another big basket to put Toledo ahead 80-76 after the Bobcats trimmed their deficit to two with four minutes remaining.
- Bryce Ford hit two free throws with six seconds left to put UT ahead 86-82.
- Ohio had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but its desperation three from halfcourt was off the mark.
UP NEXT
The Rockets will begin a three-game homestand when they host Northern Illinois (5-15, 1-7 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 1. Toledo will then host Buffalo (7-13, 2-6 MAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and James Madison (12-9) on Saturday, Feb. 8.
This article was published by UT Rockets on 2025-01-28 22:44:00
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