Rockets Rally From 14-Point Deficit to Down CSU, 70-61

Tuesday, December 1

Toledo, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

2-2,0-0MAC

Cleveland State

0-1,0-0Horizon

Cleveland St.

Toledo

Junior Setric Millner Jr. led Toledo with 17 points vs. Cleveland State.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Rockets Rally From 14-Point Deficit to Down CSU, 70-61

12/1/2020 10:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to win its home opener over Cleveland State, 70-61, on Tuesday evening in Savage Arena. The victory evened the Rockets' record at 2-2, while the Vikings fell to 0-1.

"I liked the fact that we were able to grind out this win tonight," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We didn't play that well in the first half and missed a lot of open shots. We got back to Rocket Basketball in the second half and started scoring in transition. I never sensed panic and that's a tribute to our senior leadership. Sometimes it takes a while to get going and that was the case tonight."

Junior Setric Millner Jr. paced a balanced Toledo attack with 17 points. Joining Millner in double figures were freshman Ryan Rollins (15 pts.), senior Marreon Jackson (14 pts., team-high five assists) and senior Spencer Littleson (12 pts.). Littleson came up big in the second half, scoring all 12 of his points after intermission. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the final four minutes that completed the Rocket comeback.

"Spencer kept shooting and was great in the second half," Kowalczyk. "He hit some really big shots after having some shots go in-and-out earlier in the game."

Junior Jonathan Komagum led the Rockets on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Freshman Jayson Woodrich paced Cleveland State with 13 points.

The Rockets return to action on Friday, Dec. 4 with a trip to Eastern Michigan (0-1) for their Mid-American Conference opener vs. the Eagles. Tip-off time is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Marreon Jackson scored the first basket of the game but that was the Rockets' only lead during the first stanza.
The Vikings took their first double-digit lead of the contest, 27-16, on Jayson Woodrich's jumper with 6:46 remaining in the first half.
Tre Gomilion gave the visitors their largest lead of the evening, 35-21, just over a minute before halftime, but a Seth Millner dunk with 17 seconds left provided Toledo some momentum to take into the locker room.
The Rockets shot just 24.0 percent from the field and were 1-of-9 from three-point range. Toledo was able to stay within striking distance by making 10-of-13 free throws and committing just four turnovers.

SECOND HALF

The Rockets started the second half on fire thanks to a 13-2 burst that made the score 37-34 with 15:41 to play. Ryan Rollins keyed the outburst with a three-pointer and a coast-to-coast layup.
Cleveland State answered with seven quick points to take back its double-digit lead just over a minute later.
Toledo drew even with the Vikings at 54-54 with a Rollins' triple with 6:28 to play.
Spencer Littleson's trey put the Rockets ahead to stay, 60-58, at the 3:54 mark. He followed with another triple just over two minutes later to extend Toledo's lead to 64-59.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Four Rockets have scored in double figures in three out of four contests this season.
Toledo trailed at halftime for the first time this season.
Toledo leads its all-time series vs. Cleveland State by a 12-5 margin and has won its last seven matchups vs. the Vikings.
Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk holds a 19-8 win-loss mark in his coaching career vs. CSU.

Highlights from Toledo's win over Cleveland State.

Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game.

Senior Spencer Littleson post-game.