Rockets' Rally Not Enough in 77-71 Defeat to UC Irvine

Wednesday, November 22

Henderson, Nev.

11:45 p.m.

University of Toledo

3-2,0-0MAC

UC Irvine

5-1,0-0Big West

Toledo

UC Irvine

Junior Ra'Heim Moss paced Toledo with 19 points in a 77-71 loss to UC Irvine.

Rockets' Rally Not Enough in 77-71 Defeat to UC Irvine

11/23/2023 3:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

Toledo comes within a point in final minute with 13-0 run

HENDERSON, Nev. – A frantic rally in the final minutes wasn't enough for the Toledo men's basketball team on Wednesday night in a 77-71 loss to UC Irvine at the Ball Dawgs Classic. The defeat leaves the Rockets with a 3-2 overall record, while the Anteaters are now 5-1 this season.

UT trailed 72-58 with 5:02 remaining before clawing back to within a point, 72-71, on junior Tyler Cochran's layup with 33 seconds left. Following a pair of UC-Irvine free throws, Toledo had a chance to tie the score. Junior Ra'Heim Moss missed a three-pointer though with 17 seconds left.

Moss led a balanced Rocket attack with 19 points. Redshirt freshman Javan Simmons and freshman Sonny Wilson each scored 14 points, while junior Dante Maddox Jr. added 10 points.

Devin Tillis paced the Anteaters with a game-high 24 points.

Toledo outrebounded UC Irvine by a 37-31 margin but was hurt by 14 turnovers, as well as a 21-5 Anteater run spanning the end of the first half and start of the second half that resulted in a 52-35 deficit.

"We were really hurt when they made their run," said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk. "We also committed too many turnovers and you can't do that against a very good veteran team like UC Irvine."

The Rockets will wrap up the Ball Dawgs Classic vs. Indiana State (4-1) on Friday, Nov. 24 at 11:00 a.m. PT.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

Neither team led by more than three points until a 9-2 spurt put Toledo in front 26-22 with 6:28 remaining in the opening stanza.
The Anteaters answered with a 7-0 run though to regain the lead, 29-26, at the four-minute mark.
Back-to-back baskets from Javan Simmons brought UT within 31-30 a minute later, but UC Irvine reeled off eight straight points to take a 39-30 lead.
Ra'Heim Moss' jumper at the buzzer ended the Anteaters' run to leave the Rockets with a seven-point halftime deficit.

SECOND HALF

Sonny Wilson's jumper pulled Toledo to within 41-35 a minute into the second half, but 11 straight Anteater points forced the Rockets to take a timeout.
UT climbed to within single digits, 55-46, on Simmons' two free throws with 11:53 remaining.
Toledo then fell behind 68-52 with 7:35 left before making its final charge in the final five minutes.
Seven straight points from Moss closed the gap to 72-67 with 1:47 left.
Wilson's coast-to-coast layup following a steal made it a three-point game with 1:04 to play.
Tyler Cochran then grabbed a defensive rebound and took it the length of the court to make it a one-point contest, 72-71.
UC Irvine proceeded to convert six consecutive free throws to close out the scoring.