Rockets Remain Perfect in MAC Play with 70-59 Win at WMU

Saturday, January 2

Kalamazoo, Mich.

2:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

8-3,3-0MAC

Western Michigan

2-6,1-2MAC

Toledo

Western Mich.

Freshman Ryan Rollins scored 20 points in Toledo's 70-59 win at Western Michigan.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Rockets Remain Perfect in MAC Play with 70-59 Win at WMU

1/2/2021 5:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Toledo remained unbeaten in Mid-American Conference play and extended its winning streak to five games with a 70-59 triumph at Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The victory was the Rockets' eighth straight over the Broncos and fourth in a row in University Arena.

"We played really well defensively and with a lot of energy, but we weren't making shots we typically make," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We did a great job of getting some separation at the end of the first half, and that was really big to help us pick up a road win."

Toledo (8-3, 3-0 MAC) overcame its off-shooting day by limiting the Broncos to an 18.5 percent showing (5-of-27) from behind the three-point arc and committing just nine turnovers. The Rockets shot 38.5 percent from the field and were 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) from three-point range.

Freshman Ryan Rollins paced Toledo's attack with a season-tying best 20 points. He was joined in double figures by junior JT Shumate (16 pts.), senior Spencer Littleson (11 pts.) and senior Marreon Jackson (10 pts.).

Shumate nearly registered a double-double by grabbing a team-high nine boards to help the Rockets finish with a 40-37 rebounding advantage.

Sophomore B. Artis White led Western Michigan (2-6, 1-2 MAC) with 17 points.

The Rockets return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 5 with a trip to Kent State (3-2, 0-1 MAC). Tip-off time in the M.A.C. Center is set for 2:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Four different Rockets scored in the first six minutes to give Toledo an early 8-6 advantage.
Marreon Jackson and Spencer Littleson buried back-to-back treys to answer an 8-0 Bronco spurt and evened the contest at 14-14 at the 10:33 mark.
Toledo began to assert itself with 11 unanswered points, capped off by a three-point play from Ryan Rollins for a 32-24 cushion at 3:33 before the half.
A pair of free throws from Rollins and Jackson to close out the half gave the Rockets a 39-27 lead at the break.

SECOND HALF

Toledo maintained in control throughout the second half and never let its lead dip below eight points.
Mattia Acunzo's jumper put the Rockets in front 47-36 with 12:21 to play after the Broncos had trimmed their deficit to nine.
Back-to-back baskets from B Artis White brought WMU within 50-42 with 10:41 left, but JT Shumate hit two free throws and Littleson drilled a triple to put Toledo back on top 55-42 a minute later.
WMU made one last comeback bid when it cut the Rockets' lead to 65-57 with 1:39 remaining, but Toledo closed it out by hitting five of six free throws.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Toledo has held four of its last five opponents under 60 points.
Ryan Rollins' previous-best scoring effort was 20 points at Xavier.
JT Shumate started his first game as a Rocket today.
Marreon Jackson missed his first free throw of the season to end his school-record streak for consecutive free throws at 41.
Jackson extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 32 straight games.