TOLEDO, Ohio – Freshman Ryan Rollins tallied a season-high 25 points and team-best seven rebounds to lead five Rockets in double figures in Toledo's convincing 89-72 victory over Central Michigan.The victory improved the Rockets' record to 12-4 overall and 7-1 in Mid-American Conference play.

"Ryan was very efficient tonight by shooting 11-of-14 from the floor," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We didn't shoot well in the first half, but we turned it around when our shots started falling. When we move the ball and play as unselfish as we do, we are a talented offensive team. We're a team that continues to evolve and get better."

Joining Rollins in double digits were senior Marreon Jackson, who tallied 15 points, a game-high nine assists and six rebounds. Senior Spencer Littleson (14 pts.), junior JT Shumate (13 pts.) and junior Setric Millner Jr. (10 pts.) also posted double-figure scoring totals making it four straight games five or more Rockets have tallied 10 or more points.

Senior Travon Broadway Jr. paced the Chippewas (6-8, 2-5 MAC) with a game-high 27 points.

Toledo led for nearly the entire contest and pulled away toward the end of the first half with a 9-0 spurt that resulted in a 42-33 halftime advantage. The Rockets then rebuffed each of CMU's rallies by shooting 55.2 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes.

Toledo outshot CMU by a 48.5-38.7 margin and also held a significant edge in the three-point shooting department. The Rockets knocked down 9-of-29 three-point attempts (31.0 percent) compared to the Chippewas' 4-of-25 totals (16.0 percent).

Toledo returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 when it hosts Kent State (7-3, 4-2 MAC) at Noon in Savage Arena. The Golden Flashes have won four in a row, including a tonight's 84-81 home victory over Buffalo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Neither team led by more than four points for the first 10 minutes until back-to-back baskets from JT Shumate and Ryan Rollins put Toledo in front 20-14 at the 9:50 mark.
• CMU answered with nine straight points to take a 23-22 lead 7:13 before halftime to take its only lead of the evening.
• The Rockets started to pull away with a nine-point burst highlighted by Setric Millner Jr.'s three-point play for a 36-25 cushion just under three minutes before halftime.
• Toledo took a 42-33 advantage to the locker room despite hitting just 3-of-16 shots from behind the three-point arc.

SECOND HALF

• Central Michigan reduced its deficit to 44-37 just over two minutes into the second half but Marreon Jackson responded with a driving layup and a three-pointer.
• CMU then rallied to within 57-49 with 13:07 to play but Spencer Littleson buried a pair of triples to increase the Rockets' lead to 14.
• Toledo's lead dipped under double digits one last time, 72-63, with six minutes left but put the game away with an 8-0 spurt capped off by a Rollins' three-point play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• At least four Rockets have scored in double digits in every Mid-American Conference game.
• Toledo has won seven of its last eight meetings vs. Central Michigan.
• The Rockets have posted double-digit victories in six of their seven conference wins.
• Ryan Rollins' 25 points were one shy of the most points by a Rocket this season. Spencer Littleson tallied 26 at Kent State on Jan. 5.
• Rollins' scoring output was the most by a Rocket freshman since Marreon Jackson tallied 26 vs. Eastern Michigan in the 2018 MAC Tournament semifinals.

Highlights from Toledo's win over Central Michigan.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game.


Freshman Ryan Rollins post-game.