TOLEDO, Ohio – Six Rockets scored in double figures to propel Toledo to its seventh-straight victory, a dominating 95-78 triumph over Ohio on Friday evening in a nationally-televised contest in Savage Arena. The win improved Toledo to 10-3 this season and a perfect 5-0 in Mid-American Conference action.

"We played really well in the first half and came out with great energy and were on point and connected defensively," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We nearly had seven guys score in double figures and that's a credit to playing unselfish basketball."

Senior Marreon Jackson topped the balanced attack with 18 points in addition to registering six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Joining Jackson in double digits were freshman Ryan Rollins (16 pts., seven asst.), junior JT Shumate (15 pts., 4 blks.), senior Spencer Littleson (14 pts., 5 reb.) junior Setric Millner Jr. (13 pts., 7 reb.) and sophomore Keshaun Saunders (11 pts.).  Redshirt freshman Mattia Acunzo also nearly scored in double figures, finishing with eight points.

Freshman Mark Sears led Ohio (6-5, 2-3 MAC) with 20 points and eight assists.

Toledo shot a season-high 61.8 percent from the field and knocked down 12-of-27 shots (44.4 percent) from three-point range. The Rockets limited the Bobcats to a 43.5 shooting mark and a 33.3 percent clip (9-of-27) from behind the three-point arc.

Toledo trailed for only 41 seconds in the contest and held a 48-32 halftime lead.  The closest the Bobcats could come within the Rockets in the second half was nine points with 13:46 remaining.

Toledo is back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 12 when it hosts Eastern Michigan (2-3, 0-2 MAC) at 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena. The Eagles will host Akron tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Toledo assumed early control with an 11-0 run to take a 17-6 lead just over six minutes into the contest. Spencer Littleson sparked the run with five points.
• The Bobcats clawed back within three, 17-14, but Toledo answered with eight straight points that included threes from Marreon Jackson and Mattia Acunzo and a dunk from Keshaun Saunders.
• Toledo increased its cushion to 40-22 3:36 before halftime with another spurt, scoring nine straight thanks to four free throws from Spencer Littleson, a trey from Ryan Rollins and two free throws from Saunders.
• A Littleson jumper provided the Rockets their largest lead of the half, 47-26, at the 1:35 mark.
• Toledo shot 60 percent from the field and from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes with the Bobcats posting a 36.7 percent shooting mark.

SECOND HALF

• Ohio quickly cut into its deficit with a 9-2 run in the first three minutes after intermission to make the score 52-41.
• Ben Vander Plas' three-pointer at the 15:43 mark brought the Bobcats within 56-46, but Jackson answered with a triple of his own on the Rockets' next possession.
• Ohio kept pushing and reduced Toledo's lead to single digits, 60-51, on Miles Brown's layup with 13:46 to play.
• Acunzo and Rollins responded with layups to give the Rockets some breathing room, 64-51, less than a minute later.
• Toledo eliminated any hopes of a Bobcat comeback with a 10-0 burst that included triples from Acunzo and Rollins and a dunk from JT Shumate.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Rockets' 5-0 start to the MAC season is their best since going 7-0 in the 2006-07 campaign.
• Toledo has a five-game winning streak vs. Ohio and has won six of its last seven meetings vs. the Bobcats.
• The Rockets shot over 60 percent from the field for the first time since posting a 60.0 FG% at Oakand on Nov. 9, 2018.
• Marreon Jackson has scored in double digits in 34 straight games, knocked down a season-high five three-point field goals and tied his season high with four steals.
• Ryan Rollins dished out a season-high seven assists and has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games this season.
• JT Shumate has scored in double digits in three of six games since becoming eligible on Dec. 16.

Highlights from Toledo win over Ohio.


Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk post-game.


Senior Marreon Jackson post-game.