MUNCIE, Ind. – Toledo rallied from 12 points down to take a one-point lead in the second half but couldn't complete its comeback at Ball State on Friday evening. The contest was the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
"We started the game really well, but then we got stagnant offensively for about a 10-minute stretch in the first half that ended up being the difference in the game," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We're competing, guarding and doing a lot of good things, but we just need to be more consistent offensively."
Senior Willie Jackson tallied a team-high 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets (8-6, 0-1 MAC) for his eighth double-double of the season. Senior Luke Knapke and junior Marreon Jackson joined him in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Marreon Jackson also dished out a game-high six assists with zero turnovers, while Knapke swatted away four Cardinal shots.
Junior guard Ishmael El-Amin topped Ball State (8-6, 1-0 MAC) with 17 points and nine rebounds.
The Cardinals held a slight advantage over the Rockets shooting the ball, tallying a 42.3 FG% compared to Toledo's 40.4 mark. UT was 8-of-19 behind the three-point arc, while the Cardinals were 9-of-26. Toledo was 7-of-15 from the charity stripe, while the hosts missed just once in nine attempts.
The Rockets will remain on the road with a trip to Kent State on Tuesday, Jan. 7 for the first of two matchups this season vs. the Golden Flashes. Toledo will play its first conference home game vs. Western Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 11.
HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
FIRST HALF
· Toledo was red-hot early making seven of its first 11 shots en route to a 17-5 lead less than eight minutes into the contest.
· Keshaun Saunders hit a pair of treys and grabbed two steals during the early spurt.
· Ball State responded by scoring 19 straight points before Luke Knapke's free throw at the 4:38 mark cut the Cardinals' lead to 24-18.
· Brachen Hazen hit a three-pointer to extend Ball State's lead to 34-22, but Toledo scored the half's final five points on a Willie Jackson layup and a Dylan Alderson three-pointer.
SECOND HALF
· Toledo couldn't cut into the Cardinals' lead until a 9-0 spurt evened the score at 46-46 with 10:17 remaining. Marreon Jackson opened the run with a three-pointer, and Spencer Littleson, Luke Knapke and Willie Jackson followed with baskets in the paint.
· Ishmael El-Amin answered with a trey to put BSU back up 49-46, but a Knapke free throw and another three from Marreon Jackson at the 8:29 mark gave Toledo its first lead since the early stages of the first half.
· After the lead changed hands three times, Tahjai Teague's three-point play put the Cardinals ahead, 56-52, with 4:12 to play.
· Ball State extended its lead to 59-52 before a Knapke trey brought the Rockets within 59-55 with 1:35 remaining. After Knapke blocked a Cardinal shot, Marreon Jackson had a chance to make it a one-point game but his three-point attempt rimmed out.
· After Toledo forced a turnover with 26 seconds left, Willie Jackson's layup made the score 59-57 with 11.8 seconds on the clock.
· The Rockets trapped Ball State on the in-bounds pass and forced the Cardinals to call timeout with 9.6 seconds left.
· Marreon Jackson was then whistled for a foul before Ball State could inbound the ball and Luke Bumbalough knocked down two free throws for the final margin of victory.
