Rockets Fall in Overtime to Western Michigan, 61-56

Tuesday, February 21

Toledo, OH

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

14-14 (7-8MAC)

Western Michigan

12-15 (8-7MAC)

OT 1

Western Michigan

TOLEDO

Senior Steve Taylor Jr. tallied 17 points and 23 rebounds in UT's 61-56 (OT) loss to Western Michigan.

Photo by: Toledo Athletics

Rockets Fall in Overtime to Western Michigan, 61-56

2/21/2017 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

TOLEDO, OH – Senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. scored 17 points and tied his own Savage Arena record with 23 rebounds but that wasn't enough as Toledo dropped a 61-56 decision to Western Michigan in overtime on Tuesday evening. The overtime game for UT was its eighth of the season, a total that ties the national record held by Western Kentucky (1978), Portland (1984) and Valparaiso (1993).

The Rockets (14-14, 7-8 MAC), who saw a 15-point second-half lead slip away for a second-straight game, fell two games behind Ball State (18-10, 9-6 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference West Division standings with the defeat. The Broncos (12-15, 8-7 MAC) are now alone in second place in the West Division after limiting UT to a season-low point total (56) and field-goal percentage (.339).

Toledo also turned in one of its top defensive performances of the season by holding WMU to a 34.3 shooting mark. Both teams struggled to find their touch from behind the arc as UT converted just 3-of-17 three-point attempts with the Broncos slightly better at 4-of-18.

Senior guard Jonathan Williams and sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford joined Taylor in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Junior guard Thomas Wilder topped the Broncos with a game-high 30 points with junior center Drake Lamont contributing a double-double thanks to 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Toledo committed just one turnover in the first half en route to take a 31-23 halftime advantage. The Rockets were able to extend their cushion to as many as 15 points and led 42-27 with 12:28 to play.

Wilder scored seven straight points to begin WMU's rally as part of a 9-0 Bronco run that cut Toledo's lead to 44-41 with 9:02 remaining. UT scored its final points of regulation when a pair of Williams' free throws gave the Rockets a 49-45 margin with 4:26 to play. Wilder hit two free throws just over a minute later, and WMU senior forward Tucker Haymond evened the score at 49-49 with two more free throws at the 52-second mark. Toledo had a shot to win the game in regulation, but Taylor's jumper rimmed out at the buzzer.

Sanford's jumper gave the Rockets an early lead in overtime, but Haymond's trey put the Broncos in front, 52-51, for the first time since holding a 4-0 lead. A pair of Wilder baskets sandwiched a Taylor jumper leaving Toledo down, 56-53, with 1:02 to play. Following a Rocket timeout, sophomore forward Nate Navigato drilled a corner trey to knot the score at 56-56 with 45.1 seconds left. WMU sophomore guard Bryce Moore answered right back with a three-point bomb 11 seconds later. Toledo was able to get a good look to tie the score but senior guard Jordan Lauf's three-pointer rimmed out with nine seconds to play.

Toledo returns to action on Friday, Feb. 24 when it hosts Central Michigan. Tip-off time is for the game which will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network is set for 6:00 p.m.

Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game comments

Senior Steve Taylor Jr. post-game comments