HUNTINGTON, WV – Toledo played its nation-high fifth overtime game of the season at Marshall on Saturday evening but came up on the short end of a 111-105 (OT) setback to the Thundering Herd at the Henderson Center.

Senior guard Jonathan Williams led the Rockets with 28 points to go along with nine rebounds, while senior forward Steve Taylor Jr. tallied a career-high 27 points and 10 boards for his eighth double-double of the season. Sophomore forward Nate Navigato scored a season-high 14 points, while redshirt freshman center Luke Knapke added 11 points and five rebounds.

Junior guard Jon Elmore paced Marshall (6-3) with a game-high 35 points and 10 assists with senior guard Stevie Browning contributing 27 points.

Both teams were efficient offensively with Toledo (4-6) registering a 53.4 field-goal percentage and Marshall converting at a 62.7 percent clip.

The Rockets held a 43-30 advantage on the glass after limiting Marshall to just four offensive rebounds.

UT trailed 81-74 with 6:42 remaining when it scored nine straight points in less than two minutes to take an 83-81 lead.  The Rockets then took a 93-89 advantage with 1:52 to play following Navigato's back-to-back treys.  Toledo had a chance to extend its lead but Taylor was whistled for a charge with 1:12 remaining.

Marshall's Ryan Taylor cut UT's advantage to 93-91 with a layup at the 59.9 second mark and Browning's basket evened the score at 93-93 with 25.0 ticks showing. There appeared to be contact on Steve Taylor's shot to win the game in regulation but no foul was called.

Toledo took its only lead in the extra session at 97-95 following back-to-back baskets from Taylor and Knapke a little over one minute into OT.  After Williams fouled out, Marshall went on a 7-1 spurt for a 102-98 lead but Navigato responded with another trey for a one-point deficit. Taylor's free throw then tied the game at 102-102 with 2:06 left.  

Marshall's Austin Loop put the hosts back in front, 105-102, and the closest UT could come the rest of the way was two points.

After falling behind 7-0 early the Rockets responded by scoring 11 straight points and extended their cushion to as many as eight points. Marshall chipped away though and both team were deadlocked at 44-44 at intermission.

The Herd started quickly again in the second stanza and surged to a 54-46 lead just over two minutes after the break. UT eventually regained the lead at 60-59 on a Taylor layup with 14:18 to play. Marshall then was able to re-take the lead and expanded it to seven points before the Rockets rallied.

Toledo will take the upcoming week off for final exams and return to action on Saturday, Dec. 17 when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana. Tip-off time is 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.


Coach Kowalczyk's Post-Game Interview vs. Marshall