BOWLING GREEN, OH – Toledo dropped a heartbreaking 104-100 (2OT) decision to arch-rival Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at the Stroh Center. The defeat snapped the Rockets' six-game winning streak in the 169-game series and also was UT's school-record sixth overtime contest of the season.
 
Senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. led the Rockets (11-12, 4-6 MAC) with 25 points and 13 rebounds for his MAC-best 17^th double-double of the season. Senior guard Jonathan Williams and sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford also topped the 20-point mark with 24 and 21 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Nate Navigato scored in double digits as well with 16 points.
 
Senior guard Zack Denny paced the Falcons (10-13, 4-6 MAC) with a game-high 28 points with senior forward Wes Alcegaire contributing 22 points.
 
Both teams were efficient offensively, as the Rockets and Falcons shot 55.4 and 58.7 percent from the field , respectively. UT connected on 14-of-28 three-point field-goal attempts, a total that marked its second-most triples in Mid-American Conference history. BGSU was on fire from three-point range as well and converted 9-of-12 attempts. The Falcons enjoyed an edge at the charity stripe also by converting 21-of-32 free throws compared to the Rockets' 14-of-24 totals.
 
UT sent the game to overtime by rallying from a 75-72 deficit with 1:30 remaining. Williams' triple with 1:04 left evened the contest at 75-75 and neither team could score the remainder of regulation.
 
In the first overtime, Williams' three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt put the Midnight Blue and Gold in front 87-80 with 1:48 to play. Three straight baskets from Alcegaire cut UT's lead to 87-86 just over a minute later. Sanford then drilled a baseline jumper with 9.8 seconds left, but a trey from Denny with 5.5 ticks remaining knotted the score at 89-89.
 
Toledo jumped out quickly again in the second overtime as a Williams' layup and three-pointer from Nate Navigato gave the Rockets a 94-89 advantage in just under a minute. After the hosts evened the score at 94-94, senior guard Jordan Lauf buried a triple to put UT ahead, 97-94, with 2:23 remaining. The teams then exchanged baskets before a pair of Denny triples sandwiched a free throw from redshirt freshman center Luke Knapke to give Bowling Green a 102-100 lead with 27.9 seconds to play.
 
Sanford's trey rimmed out on UT's next possession and Denny closed out the scoring with a pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left.
 
Toledo controlled play throughout and led for nearly 42 minutes in the contest. The Rockets jumped out to an early 12-2 cushion before the Falcons took their first lead, 36-35, on an Alcegaire layup 2:12 before halftime. The Rockets quickly responded with a 7-0 burst buoyed by five points from Navigato and took a 43-39 lead to the locker room.
 
UT scored the first six points of the second half to expand its advantage to 50-40, but BGSU rallied to take a 65-62 lead with 6:25 to play thanks to a 6-0 spurt. Toledo responded with a 6-0 run of its own thanks to a Sanford layup followed by two more lay-ins from Williams. A Williams' trey put the Rockets ahead, 71-67, with 3:49 remaining, but the Falcons responded with a 7-1 spurt to set the stage for a rollercoaster finish.
 
Toledo returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 7 when it hosts Eastern Michigan in Savage Arena. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.


Coach Kowalczyk's Post-Game Comments vs. Bowling Green


Senior guard Jonathan Williams' Post-Game Comments vs. Bowling Green