YPSILANTI, Mich. – Toledo let a 12-point lead slip away on Tuesday evening as Eastern Michigan rallied for a 76-69 Mid-American Conference victory over the Rockets (20-6, 8-5 MAC) at the Convocation Center. The defeat reduces Toledo's lead in the MAC's West Division to one game over Central Michigan (18-8, 7-6) and two over the Eagles (12-14, 6-7).

Sophomore Marreon Jackson led UT with 14 points and six assists. Senior Nate Navigato tallied 13 points, while junior Willie Jackson contributed 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds.

Senior Elijah Minnie topped EMU with 23 points and nine rebounds. Senior Paul Jackson added 19 points and five assists for the Eagles.

The Rockets outrebounded Eastern by a 34-29 margin but were hurt by 16 turnovers that the Eagles converted into 23 points.

"Our turnovers and some missed defensive assignments really cost us in the second half," Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We played well for 30 minutes, but then we couldn't make the plays we needed to when Eastern made its comeback."

UT shot 43.9 percent from the field, 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) from three-point range, and knocked down all eight of its free-throw attempts. EMU posted a  48.0 shooting mark, 47.1 three-point FG% (8-of-17) and a 69.0 FT% (20-of-29).

Toledo returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when it hosts Northern Illinois (12-14, 5-8 MAC). The contest will tip off at 6:00 p.m. and be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Toledo jumped out to an 8-4 lead but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 spurt to take a 13-8 advantage with just under 13 minutes remaining in the first half.
• Treys from Chris Darrington and Spencer Littleson and two baskets from Willie Jackson evened the score at 20-20 with 8:19 remaining.
• Toledo eventually regained the lead by closing out the half with a 7-0 burst to take a 31-27 lead to its locker room.
• Willie Jackson led the Rockets in the first half with eight points.
• UT held a 20-9 advantage on the boards in the opening 20 minutes.

SECOND HALF

• The Eagles opened the second half strong and took a 35-34 lead at the 17:20 mark. Elijah Minnie hit a trey to open the half and followed James Thompson IV's three-point play with a layup.
• Toledo responded with an 8-0 spurt to gain some breathing room with just over 14 minutes remaining. Sanford capped off the run with a pair of floaters to give UT a 42-35 advantage.
• UT extended its cushion to as many as 12 points, 53-41, on a Chris Darrington trey with 11:07 remaining.
• EMU responded with a 22-0 run to take a 63-53 lead with 4:38 to play.
• Marreon Jackson converted a four-point play with 1:03 remaining to reduce the Rockets' deficit to 70-66 but that was as close as Toledo could get.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Nate Navigato hit 3-of-6 attempts from three-point range to move into second place on the MAC's all-time three-point field goal list. He now has 291 treys in his Rocket career.
• Toledo lost its second straight game when leading at halftime. UT is now 18-3 when leading after 20 minutes.
• The Rockets lost for just the third time in 20 contests when winning the battle of the boards.
• Toledo has lost back-to-back games for just the second time this season.