SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Toledo couldn't overcome a cold shooting second half on Wednesday evening as its upset bid against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Syracuse came up short in a 72-64 setback at the Carrier Dome. The defeat was UT's first in four contests this season, while the host Orange remained unbeaten in five games.

"We played with great heart and great character," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "I'm disappointed with not getting the win, but if we play like that the wins will come."
 
Senior guard Tre'Shaun Fletcher spearheaded the Rockets' attack with 19 points thanks to a 5-of-6 shooting effort from behind the three-point arc. He also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to notch his second double-double in four games in a Midnight Blue and Gold uniform.
 
"Tre'Shaun continues to provide us great leadership and toughness," Kowalczyk said. "Just the way he talks and communicates on the floor has really been huge for our team."

Joining Fletcher in double digits were junior forward Nate Navigato (13 pts.), sophomore center Luke Knapke (12 pts.) and junior guard Jaelan Sanford (11 pts.).
 
Junior guard Frank Howard and freshman forward Oshae Brissett led the Orange offensively with career-high point totals of 25 and 17 points, respectively. Brissett also grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds to help Syracuse register a 50-31 advantage on the boards and a 26-10 edge in points in the paint.
 
The Rockets were held to a season-low 33.3 field-goal percentage, 24.1 percent in the second half, but did convert 12-of-25 three-point attempts. Syracuse posted a 42.9 field-goal percentage and was 4-of-18 from behind the three-point arc.
 
Toledo took its first lead of the contest, 35-33, on Navigato's three-pointer in the opening minute of the second half. The Orange answered immediately with an 11-0 run to take a 44-35 lead.

The Rockets fought right back though with a 6-0 spurt that consisted of a Knapke layup, a Fletcher trey and a free throw from freshman guard Dylan Alderson. Brissett followed with a three-pointer that led to a 13-2 run and the Orange's largest lead of the night, 57-43, with just over eight minutes to play.

UT trailed by as many as eight points in the opening 20 minutes, but ended the first half with a flourish. The Rockets strung together four consecutive treys – two each from Sanford and Fletcher – to cut Syracuse's lead at the intermission to a single point, 33-32.
 
Toledo returns to action on Friday, Nov. 24 with a contest at Ivy League foe Cornell (1-3). Tip-off time at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y. is 4:00 p.m.