Rockets Fall at No. 19 Buffalo

Tuesday, January 8

Buffalo, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

12-3 (0-2MAC)

110

Buffalo

14-1 (2-0MAC)

Toledo

Buffalo

110

Senior Chris Darrington scored a career-high 21 points in Toledo's loss at Buffalo.

1/8/2019 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Toledo ran into a hot-shooting Buffalo squad on Tuesday night and suffered a 110-80 setback to the No. 19 Bulls (14-1, 2-0 MAC) in Alumni Arena.

Senior Chris Darrington came off the bench to lead the Rockets (12-3, 0-2 MAC) with a career-high 21 points, while sophomore Marreon Jackson tallied a season-high 20 points. Joining the backcourt duo in double figures were junior Luke Knapke and senior Nate Navigato with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Junior Willie Jackson paced the Rockets on the boards with 11 rebounds with Knapke and Marreon Jackson grabbing six apiece.

Senior Jeremy Harris led the Bulls' attack with a career-high 34 points, 20 of those coming in the first half.

Toledo shot 40.3 percent from the field and was 10-of-29 (34.5 percent) from three-point range. Buffalo converted 51.8 percent of its shot attempts and knocked down 15-of-30 shots from behind the three-point arc.

The Rockets return to action this weekend with a contest at Western Michigan (6-9, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m. in University Arena.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Buffalo jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first five minutes thanks in large part to three treys from Jeremy Harris.
After a three-pointer from Nate Navigato and layup from AJ Edu reduced UT's deficit to 18-9, Harris answered with a traditional three-point play to push the Bulls' lead back to double figures.
Five straight points from Marreon Jackson on a three and layup reduced Buffalo's lead to 25-16 with 11:23 remaining in the half.
The Bulls took their largest lead of the half, 44-24, 2:22 before intermission. Navigato and Chris Darrington sparked a rally by each hitting a three to help UT close out the half with an 8-1 spurt.

SECOND HALF

Marreon Jackson opened the half with five straight points to cut UT's deficit to 45-37 less than a minute into the second stanza.
Buffalo responded with a 12-4 spurt to increase its advantage to 59-41 with 16:30 to play.
Toledo trailed 64-51 following a Navigato three with 14:32 remaining, but Buffalo ended any hopes of a Rocket comeback with a 13-0 burst for a 77-51 cushion with 11:19 remaining.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Freshman AJ Edu blocked three shots and has 21 rejections in his last seven games.
Toledo was outrebounded by a 47-42 margin, marking just the fourth time this season UT has lost the battle of the boards.
The Rockets committed 17 turnovers, one shy of their season high of 18 vs. North Alabama.