TOLEDO, OH ? Toledo came tantalizingly close but couldn't dig itself out of an early double-digit deficit on Wednesday evening in a 59-54 setback to arch-rival Bowling Green at Savage Arena.
“It was a classic MAC battle tonight where two teams were fighting and clawing trying to figure out how to win a basketball game,” Toledo Head Coach Gene Cross said. “They came out in the first half and put some distance between the two of us. Then we came out in the second half and defended a little better and almost tied it up. They made the plays when they needed to and we didn't.”
Senior G Jonathan Amos tallied 21 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to lead the Rockets for his fourth career double-double. Sophomore F Justin Anyijong (11 pts., 7 reb.) and senior G Tyrone Kent (10 pts., season-high nine reb.) also scored in double figures for UT.
Senior G Darryl Clements and senior F Nate Miller led a balanced Falcon attack with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Trailing by 11 with 5:24 to play, the Rockets scored nine straight points in a two-minute span to make it a two-point contest, 50-48, with 3:19 to play. UT then had a chance to tie following a steal by Amos' running jumper in the lane was short and Miller followed with an uncontested layup.
Amos then made it a two-point contest again with a pair of free throws, but senior G Brian Moten answered this time with a three-pointer from the left corner. Amos converted another two free throws to bring the Rockets within 55-52 with 31 seconds remaining but that was as close as UT would get.
Bowling Green never trailed in the contest and surged to a 17-5 advantage early in the first half. Clements and Miller each provided a pair of baskets in the opening spurt. The Rockets fought back though with a 7-0 run to climb within 19-16 with just over six minutes to play.
UT stayed within striking distance over the next three minutes but the Falcons ended the half with a 7-2 run to take a 33-24 advantage into the locker room.
Toledo returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 when it travels to Athens, OH to battle Ohio University. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m.
