Second-Half Surge Keys 80-72 Win at Detroit Mercy

Saturday, December 14

Detroit, Mich.

3:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

8-2,0-0MAC

Detroit Mercy

1-9,0-0Horizon

Toledo

Detroit Mercy

Junior Spencer Littleson scored 21 points in the Rockets' 80-72 win at Detroit Mercy.

12/14/2019 5:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

DETROIT, Mich. – A 17-2 spurt midway through the second half propelled Toledo (8-2) to an 80-72 victory over Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon in non-conference men's basketball action in Calihan Hall. The win was the Rockets' fifth in a row and fourth straight over the Titans.

Senior Luke Knapke and junior Spencer Littleson paced the Rockets with a game-high 21 points, while junior Marreon Jackson added 16 points and a team-best six assists. Senior Willie Jackson led Toledo to a 41-36 advantage on the boards by grabbing 16 rebounds to go along with 13 points, four assists and two blocked shots.

Senior Brad Calipari scored a career-high 20 points to pace the Titans (1-9), who played without leading scorer Antoine Davis (flu).

"Give Detroit Mercy credit because after watching them on film I thought that this was their best game of the year," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "For whatever reason, that's what usually happens when a team's best player doesn't play. We settled in during the second half and stayed positive with each other. We started moving the ball and when we do that we're a good team. We also got some stops and rebounds during our second-half run that led to some good plays in transition."

Toledo shot 39.0 percent from the field but was 12-of-25 (48.0%) from behind the three-point arc. The Rocket also converted 22-of-28 free throws (78.6 percent), including 15-of-16 in the second half.

Detroit Mercy shot 38.7 percent, 13-of-28 (46.4%) from three-point range and 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Rockets return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 17 with a non-conference contest at Kansas City (5-7). Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. (CT).

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

The lead changed hands five times in the opening six minutes.
Detroit took an 11-7 lead before redshirt freshman T.J. Smith's jumper put the Rockets on top 12-11 at the 14:14 mark.
The Titans followed with a 10-2 spurt to lead 24-17 midway through the first stanza.
The Rockets trailed by as many as eight points before ending the half with a 5-0 run thanks to a pair of Willie Jackson free throws and a Spencer Littleson trey right before the buzzer.

SECOND HALF

Toledo climbed to within a point twice right after coming out of the locker room but Detroit Mercy responded each time.
Back-to-back treys from Brad Calipari put the Rockets down 51-43 at the 14:32 mark.
A 6-0 burst capped off by two Littleson free throws brought Toledo within 53-51 just over two minutes later.
Calipari then knocked down three straight free throws to put the Rockets down 58-51 with 10:39 to play.
Toledo followed with five straight three-pointers – three from Knapke and two from Marreon Jackson – to take a 68-60 lead with 7:24 left.
The closest the Titans came down the stretch was four points as Marreon Jackson buried six straight free throws to close out the game.

BY THE NUMBERS

Toledo's 12 three-point field goals were its second-highest total this season, two shy of 14 vs. Marshall.
The Rockets' nine turnovers matched a season low.
Detroit Mercy's 38.7 shooting mark was the sixth time Toledo has held an opponent under 40.0 percent from the field.
Willie Jackson registered his sixth double-double and tied his season high with 13 points. He also posted a double-digit rebound total for the ninth time in 10 outings.
Luke Knapke is the only Rocket to score in double digits in every game this season. He is 10-of-17 from three-point range in his last three contests.