Rockets Clinch Share of MAC Title With 92-76 Win over Buffalo

Tuesday, March 1

Buffalo, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

University of Toledo

24-6,16-3MAC

Buffalo

19-9,13-5MAC

Toledo

Buffalo

RayJ Dennis tallied 19 points, six rebounds and six assists in Toledo's 92-76 win.

Rockets Clinch Share of MAC Title With 92-76 Win over Buffalo

3/1/2022 9:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore guard Ryan Rollins and junior forward Setric Millner Jr. each scored 20 points as Toledo rolled to a 92-76 victory at Buffalo Tuesday night, clinching at least a share of its second straight Mid-American Conference championship. The Rockets won back-to-back titles for the first time since winning three in a row from 1979-81 and are looking to capture two consecutive outright league crowns for the first time in program history.

        Toledo (24-6, 16-3 MAC) won for the sixth time in its last seven games, while snapping Buffalo's (19-9, 13-5 MAC) nine-game winning streak. The Rockets shot a sizzling 34-of-64 (53.1%) from the field, including 9-of-17 from long range. Six different Rockets made at least one three-pointer.

        Rollins added eight rebounds and six assists to go with his 20 points. Junior guard RayJ Dennis chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, while junior forward JT Shumate pitched in with 14 points while battling foul trouble.

"Once we got a lead, we made them play from behind and they made some mistakes," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "I thought we played a complete game for 40 minutes. We show maturity, mental toughness, and stayed positive."

        After trailing 5-0, the Rockets made nine of their first 11 shots on their way to a 27-13 lead. Toledo led by as many as 19 points in the first half and took a 46-32 lead into halftime. Toledo outscored the Bulls 7-2 to open the second half and led by as many as 24 points before Buffalo trimmed the margin in the waning minutes.

        Toledo can win its second-straight outright MAC title with a win over Bowling Green in the regular-season finale at Savage Arena on Friday (6:30 p.m./CBS Sports Network).

FIRST HALF

After Buffalo opened with a 5-0 lead, Toledo made six of its first eight shots to outscore the Bulls 16-4 and take a 16-9 lead heading into the first media timeout.
Toledo continued its long-distance barrage, hitting five of its first six three-point attempts. Setric Millner Jr.'s two-point jumper made the score 27-13 and forced Buffalo to call timeout at the 12:14 mark.
Ryan Rollins nailed Toledo's sixth three-pointer of the half to push the lead to 32-15 and force another Buffalo timeout at the 8:49 mark.
After Buffalo trimmed the lead to 36-23, Toledo went on a 6-0 run to increase the margin to 42-23 with 3:47 left. However, moments later junior JT Shumate picked up his third foul.
Buffalo's Ronaldo Segu made a running shot at the buzzer from just inside the halfcourt line to trim Toledo's lead to 46-32 at the break.
Toledo shot a sizzling 19-of-34 (55.9%) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, including 6-of-10 from long range. Rollins led the way with 12 first-half points.

SECOND HALF

Toledo extended its lead to 57-40 at the first media timeout, getting a boost from freshman center Mihai Carcoana, who made two buckets in the first two minutes.
Junior guard Keshaun Saunders knocked down a three-pointer at the 12:29 mark, capping an 8-2 run that increased Toledo's edge to 69-47.
Toledo pushed the lead 24 points, 85-61, at the 4:14 mark on a jumper by Millner, putting the game out of reach.