FINDLAY, Ohio – Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk wanted his team to be challenged in Saturday afternoon's exhibition at Findlay University.  That's exactly what happened for his squad in the Rockets' 83-78 victory over the Oilers.

"We got everything we wanted out of today's game and more," Kowalczyk said. "We played against a really good team that played phenomenal. I thought we gave up some open threes early and that made them comfortable. I'm proud of our resolve and how we stayed together, stayed positive and got stops. We made plays when we had to down the stretch to pull out the win."

Sophomore Ryan Rollins led the Rockets with 28 points and nine rebounds. Juniors Setric Millner Jr. and RayJ Dennis also finished in double digits with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Junior JT Shumate and redshirt freshman Ra'Heim Moss contributed eight points each, while freshman Kooper Jacobi added seven points.

The Rockets shot 46.0 percent from the field and 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from three-point range. Toledo also was an impressive 91.2 percent (31-of-34) from the free-throw line.

Findlay posted a 50.0 FG% and was 14-of-30 (46.7 percent) from behind the three-point arc. Tre'Maine Gray led the Oilers with 20 points.

Toledo will open its 2021-22 season at Missouri Valley Conference foe Valparaiso on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6:00 p.m. CT. The Rockets will face Detroit Mercy in their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Toledo took its only lead of the first half when Setric Millner Jr. hit two free throws 17 seconds into the game.
• The Oilers led by as many as 12 points, including a 38-26 cushion four minutes before intermission
• The Rockets cut Findlay's lead to 38-34 with an 8-0 spurt that Millner capped off with a dunk at the 1:28 mark.
• Findlay shot 54.2 percent from the field and 7-of-15 from the three-point range in the opening 20 minutes and limited Toledo to a 35.0 shooting mark.

SECOND HALF

• Toledo started the second half strong and climbed within 47-43 on a JT Shumate dunk with 16:11 left.
• Findlay responded with a flurry of three-pointers and held a 58-47 advantage with 12:30 to play.
• Ryan Rollins evened the score at 62-62 with 8:40 remaining and then hit two free throws on the Rockets' next possession for a two-point lead.
• Neither team led by more than three points down the stretch until the final seconds.
• Millner hit two free throws with 23.1 seconds left to put Toledo ahead 79-78, and Rollins forced a turnover on the ensuing in-bounds pass. Rollins was then fouled immediately and hit two free throws 
• Findlay missed a three-pointer with six seconds left and Ra'Heim Moss grabbed the rebound and hit two free throws for the final margin of victory.