Hot-Shooting Second Half Carries Red-Hot Rockets to 86-75 Win Over Buffalo

Tuesday, January 25

Toledo, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

16-4,8-1MAC

Buffalo

10-7,4-3MAC

Buffalo

Toledo

Setric Millner Jr. slams a dunk home in Toledo's 86-75 win over Buffalo on Tuesday night in Savage Arena.

Photo by: Ross Achter

Hot-Shooting Second Half Carries Red-Hot Rockets to 86-75 Win Over Buffalo

1/25/2022 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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TOLEDO, Ohio - Ryan Rollins tallied 25 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals to lead Toledo to an 86-75 victory over Buffalo Tuesday night in Savage Arena. The Rockets' victory pushes their winning streak to seven straight and keeps them in first place in the Mid-American Conference.

The game was tied 41-41 at the half, but the Rockets (16-4, 8-1 MAC) blew the contest open with a 17-3 run to give them a 74-62 lead with six minutes to play. Buffalo (10-7, 4-3 MAC) never got any closer than 11 points the rest of the way.

Rollins was joined in double digits by juniors Setric Millner Jr. (13 pts.) and JT Shumate (13 pts.) as well as redshirt freshman Ra'Heim Moss (12 pts.). Moss was 4-of-4 from the field as well as from the free-throw line, dished out a season-high six assists and grabbed four rebounds.

"Tonight was a really well-played, hard-fought game between two contending teams," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "We just had that one run in the second half where we got some separation. Ryan obviously had a great game, but RayJ Dennis' defense frustrated one of the best guards in our league in Ronaldo Segu. Ra'Heim Moss and Seth Millner also were really good, and JT Shumate battled against Josh Mballa, who is one of the most physical players in the MAC."

The Rockets also received 14 points from their bench, with junior Keshaun Saunders and freshman Kooper Jacobi each contributing six points in solid minutes.

Senior Jeenathan Williams led the way for the Bulls with 24 points.

The Rockets shot 50.9 percent from the field, including a robust 63.0 percent in the second half. Toledo also made the most of its free-throw opportunities, knocking down 25-of-32 of its attempts.

Buffalo outrebounded the Rockets, 43-37, but held just an 11-9 advantage in second-chance points.

The Rockets will return to the court on Friday, Jan. 28 against Akron in Savage Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Both teams traded baskets in a back-and-forth first half that featured 10 lead changes. Buffalo's seven-point lead with 2:56 remaining was the largest of the opening half.
The Rockets took a two-point lead with 31.7 seconds left in the end of the half thanks to a 12-2 run spurred on by Ryan Rollins' five points.
A pair of free throws by Ronaldo Segu sent the teams to the locker room with a 41-41 tie.
Toledo took advantage of the Bulls' 11 fouls, shooting 15-of-17 from the charity stripe in the half.

SECOND HALF

Rollins kicked off the second half with a floater with 19:23 remaining to make the score 43-41.
The Bulls and Rockets traded baskets for the next eight minutes, with neither team taking more than a two-point lead.
Ra'Heim Moss' jumper ignited a 17-3 Rocket run to put Toledo ahead 74-62 with 6:19 remaining, its first double-digit lead of the game.
Buffalo never recovered from that Rocket spurt and didn't come closer than 11 points down the stretch.