Toledo Hands Akron First MAC Defeat, 99-89

Saturday, January 18

Akron, Ohio

2:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

10-8 (2-3MAC)

Akron

14-4 (4-1MAC)

Toledo

Akron

Junior Marreon Jackson scored a career-high 36 points at Akron.

Photo by: Haley Boehm

1/18/2020 6:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – Junior Marreon Jackson exploded for a career-high 36 points on Saturday afternoon to lead the Toledo men's basketball team (10-8, 2-3 MAC) to a 99-89 triumph at Mid-American Conference East Division leader Akron. The Rockets' victory was the Zips' first league defeat as well their first setback in Rhodes Arena this season.

"We needed this win," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We've been struggling with our confidence and finishing games, and it was great to see us do that today. We stared right in the eye of adversity today and came out with a win."

Senior Willie Jackson also registered a career-best scoring total for Toledo, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds for his MAC-best 11^th double-double of the season. Joining the Jacksons in double digits were senior Luke Knapke (19 pts.) and junior Spencer Littleson (13 pts.).

"We had a total team effort and I'm so proud of everyone on the team," Kowalczyk said. "Marreon and Willie both came up really big for us, but we also had some big shots from Spencer (Littleson) and Keshaun (Saunders) in the final minutes."

Junior Loren Christian Jackson led Akron (14-4, 4-1 MAC) with a career-high 33 points, while senior Xeryius Williams registered 18 points and a team-high 11 boards.

Toledo shot 56.7 percent from the field against the top defensive squad in the MAC. The Rockets converted a season-best 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) three-point attempts also knocked down 16-of-18 free throws.

Akron posted a 50.8 shooting mark and was 13-of-26 from behind the three-point arc.

Toledo led 46-32 with just under a minute remaining in the first half but a 32-7 Akron spurt spanning halftime put Zips in front 64-53 with 13:12 to play. The Rockets responded by scoring eight straight points to climb back into the game. Marreon Jackson then scored 14 straight points over 2:15 to give the Toledo a 75-68 lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Toledo returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 21 when it travels to Athens, Ohio to face East Division foe Ohio. Tip-off time from the Convocation Center is set for 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Akron jumped out to a 13-8 lead early before Luke Knapke's three-pointer capped off a 7-0 run to put Toledo ahead, 15-13, seven minutes into the game.
The Rockets then broke free from the Zips with a 14-2 burst to lead 41-29 with 2:20 play in the half. Willie Jackson began the sequence with a pair of baskets and three-point buckets from Marreon Jackson and Spencer Littleson helped UT extend its lead.
Willie Jackson slammed one home with just under a minute to play to put Toledo ahead, 46-32, but Akron hit a three at the buzzer to cut its deficit at the half to 46-36.

SECOND HALF

The Zips' momentum carried over into the second half as they hit nine of their first 12 shots to take a 64-53 lead with 13:12 remaining.
The Rockets quickly chipped away with eight straight points over the next two minutes to cut Akron's lead to 64-61.
Marreon Jackson followed by burying four consecutive treys along with a layup to put Toledo ahead, 75-68, and force Akron to take timeout with 8:13 remaining.
Loren Christian Jackson's three and Xeryius Williams' layup tied the score at 77-all at the 5:25 mark, but Keshaun Saunders' trey made the score 85-79 to give the Rockets some breathing room.
Saunders buried another three-pointer from the corner for a 90-82 lead with just under two minutes remaining.
That was as close as Akron would come as the Rockets hit five of six free throws and Willie Jackson added a layup to close out the game.