TOLEDO, Ohio – Junior Tyler Cochran exploded for a career-high 33 points and the Toledo men's basketball team hung on for an 88-87 non-conference triumph over Marshall on Wednesday night in Savage Arena. The win was the Rockets' third in a row and gave Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk the 400^th victory of his coaching career.

Cochran's two free throws with 36 seconds left gave Toledo an 88-82 advantage. Marshall then cut the Rockets' lead to a single point with a layup followed by steal and three-point field goal with 18 seconds to play. After Toledo missed the front end of a one-and-one, Marshall's Cameron Crawford's shot at the buzzer rimmed out to give the Rockets the victory.

"That was a heck of a win obviously," said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk after the Rockets improved to 3-0 in one-point games this season. "Tyler Cochran had an unbelievable game at both ends of the court. I think we're starting to get more hustle plays which has been a key for us. Marshall hit some tough threes at the end to get back in it, but we have just been able to find ways to gut it out and win games."

Junior Ra'Heim Moss also registered a standout performance with 16 points and a season-high 12 rebounds for his second career double-double. Junior Dante Maddox Jr. tallied 18 points, while redshirt freshman Javan Simmons matched his season high with 15 points.

Cochran also led the Rockets with five assists and four steals in addition to grabbing eight rebounds.

Senior Obinna Anochili-Killen topped Marshall with a career-high 25 points.

Toledo shot 50.7% from the field, 45.0% (9-of-20) from three-point range and 78.6% (11-of-14) from the free-throw line. The Rockets limited Marshall to a 43.8 shooting mark and out-rebounded the Thundering Herd by a 41-36 margin.

The Rockets will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 20 vs. Vermont (8-3) for its final non-conference home game. Tip-off time in Savage Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF 

• Marshall took its largest lead of the game, 24-21, on Obinna Anochili-Killen's dunk at the 10:29 mark.
• Toledo responded by scoring six straight points on baskets from Ra'Heim Moss, Grgur Brcic and Tyler Cochran for a three-point advantage nine minutes before halftime.
• The Rockets utilized a 10-0 burst capped off by a Dante Maddox Jr. steal and dunk to increase their margin to 40-28 with 4:27 left in the half.
• Marshall responded with an 11-0 run over the next two minutes to reduce UT's advantage to 40-39.
• Toledo answered with an 8-0 spurt, and Moss' three-pointer just before the buzzer gave the Rockets a 48-39 lead at intermission.
• The Rockets shot 57.1% in the opening 20 minutes, and the Thundering Herd registered a 47.1 FG%.
• Cochran led Toledo with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting.  

  SECOND HALF

• Marshall evened the score at 53-53 four minutes after the break with an 8-0 spurt.
• Toledo returned the favor by scoring nine straight points for a 65-56 cushion with 13:11 to play.
• After an Andre Lorentsson three-pointer, Marshall went on a 10-0 run that knotted the score at 68-68 with 8:30 left.
• The Rockets appeared to gain some breathing room when a Maddox triple put them up 86-76 with two minutes remaining. 
• Marshall made a last-ditch comeback attempt by hitting three triples to close within 88-87 with 15 seconds to play.
• Cameron Crawford's shot at the buzzer rimmed out to give Toledo the victory.