TOLEDO, OH – Central Michigan spoiled Toledo's Mid-American Conference opener on Tuesday evening in Savage Arena by edging the Rockets by a 65-62 margin. Junior forward John Simons hit the game-winning shot for the Chippewas (11-1, 1-0 MAC) with a three-point field goal from the corner with 1:04 to play.
UT had a pair of chances to tie the contest but sophomore guard Jonathan Williams and senior guard Julius Brown were unable to convert three-point attempts with 51 and seven seconds remaining, respectively.
Senior guard Justin Drummond paced Toledo with 13 points along with a season-high nine rebounds. Williams was the only other Rocket to score in double figures with 11 points.
Junior guard Rayshawn Simmons topped CMU's attack with 16 points and also tied for the team lead with five assists. Senior guard Chris Fowler also was in double digits with 14 points in addition to a team-best seven rebounds and five helpers.
UT (8-6, 0-1 MAC) held the Chippewas 22 points below their scoring average of 87.1 ppg, a figure that ranked second in the nation. Both teams shot 40.0 percent from the field and each knocked down seven three-point field goals.
Toledo dominated the glass by a 40-33 margin but that was offset by the Chippewas committing just four turnovers compared to the Rockets' 13 miscues leading to a 17-2 advantage in points off turnovers. UT lost for the first time in seven games this season when outrebounding its opposition.
The contest featured 12 lead changes with the score being tied on 11 separate occasions.
Toledo held a 31-29 edge at the break and looked to be in good position after sophomore center Zach Garber's putback gave the Rockets a 60-55 advantage with 5:08 left. Fowler then tied the contest at 60-60 with a three-point play with 2:53 remaining.
Simmons' tip-in put CMU in front 62-60 with 1:58 to play, but junior center Nathan Boothe knocked down a pair of free throws and what turned out to be UT's final points to even the score at the 1:30 mark.
The Rockets will look to get back on track on Friday, Jan. 9 when it hosts MAC East Division foe Akron (10-4, 1-0 MAC). Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. with the contest being televised nationally on ESPNU.
