CLEVELAND, Ohio - Toledo (26-6, 17-3 MAC) continues its bid to win the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament when it faces No. 4 seed Akron (22-9, 14-6 MAC) in the semifinals on Friday, March 11 in Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The contest will tip off at 5:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
     
Junior Setric Millner Jr. 17 of his 22 points in the second half to help the Rockets rally for a 72-71 victory over Central Michigan in Thursday's quarterfinals. Sophomore Ryan Rollins added 14 points with juniors RayJ Dennis (13 pts.) and JT Shumate (12 pts.) also in double figures. Dennis scored the game-winner on a floater with 10.1 seconds left.

Rollins ranks fourth in the MAC with a team-high 19.0 ppg, second with 1.8 spg, and is tied for the team lead with 6.1 rpg. Shumate is second with 15.6 ppg and also grabbing 6.1 rpg. Millner Jr. (15.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Dennis (12.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.2 apg) are also scoring in double digits.

Toledo is riding a six-game winning streak during which it is scoring 84.7 ppg to go along with a 51.3 FG%. Toledo has excelled defensively during this stretch too, holding opponents to 65.3 ppg, a 38.0 FG% and a 32.1 three-point FG%.

The Rockets have won back-to-back outright MAC titles for the first time in program history and captured consecutive league crowns for the first time since 1979-81. UT set a school record with 17 MAC victories this season and its 26 wins are second in program annals, one behind the 2013-14 squad.

Akron also enters tonight's game with a six-game winning streak following its 70-68 win over No. 5 Buffalo. Sophomore Ali Ali leads the Zips with 14.2 ppg, with sophomore Enrique Freeman averaging 12.9 ppg and a MAC-best 10.9 rpg.

Toledo posted an 84-76 home win over Akron on Jan. 28 in its lone meeting of the season against the Zips. The Rockets' backcourt combined for 56 points in the victory with Rollins leading the way with 21 points (17 in the final 11 minutes). Redshirt freshman Ra'Heim Moss tallied a season-high 20 points and seven boards with Dennis contributing 15 points and five assists.

Toledo shot 58.9 percent from the field and limited the Zips to a 43.8 shooting mark.Toledo held a 46-37 halftime advantage and then opened the second half with a 7-0 spurt and led by as many as 19 points. The Zips rallied to within four points (72-68) with 5:12 remaining, but Rollins scored seven straight points to push Toledo's lead back to 80-71 for some much-needed breathing room.

For fans that can't make it to Cleveland the Blarney Irish Pub (601 Monroe St.) will host Toledo's Official MAC Tournament Watch Party for each round of the tournament.  The Blarney will be offering food and drink specials during the watch party. Fans can enjoy Bud Light draft specials throughout the games.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, March 11, 2022.
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio.
Arena: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (19,432).
Television: CBS Sports Network. Dave Ryan will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Steve Wolf serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Brent Balbinot will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst.

SERIES
Toledo leads 39-28. Toledo has won 10 of its last 12 vs. Akron after losing seven straight to Zips. The Rockets are 1-1 vs. Akron in the MAC Tourney - a 77-69 win in 2006 & a 93-92 (OT) loss in 2009.

A LOOK AT THE ROCKETS
Toledo has registered four 20-win seasons in the last five years as well as six 20-win campaigns in the last nine seasons. The Rockets broke their school record with 17 MAC victories and their 26 overall wins are second in school history, one behind the 2013-14's squad.

Toledo won 15 of its 17 league games by eight points or more. Last year, 13 of Toledo's 15 MAC victories were by nine points or more.

Toledo is ranked No. 6 in the latest CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Top 25 poll (March 7). UT is also the MAC's top-ranked team in the NCAA's NET rankings (No. 72) and KenPom rankings (No. 81) for a second-straight season.

TEAM TIDBITS

• Toledo is 4-0 in games decided by two points or less this season.
• The Rockets are 4-0 in neutral-site contests.
• Toledo is 2-4 this season when trailing at halftime with both victories coming after being down by two points to CMU.
• The Rockets are 25-1 when leading with five minutes remaining.
• Toledo is 18-1 when shooting 45 percent or better.
• The Rockets are 22-1 this season when scoring 70 or more points and 14-1 when allowing less than 70 points
• Toledo committed the fewest turnovers (9.65/game) and posted a MAC-best 1.69 A/TO ratio in league play.