BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – A slow start to the second half proved costly for the Toledo men's basketball team on Friday night in a 76-68 defeat to Bowling Green in the Stroh Center. The loss leaves the Rockets (17-10, 11-3 MAC) a game behind first-place Akron (20-7, 12-2 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference standings.

"The story of the game in my eyes was our turnovers and lack of ball movement to start the second half," said Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk about his team's miscues that led to the Falcons' 8-0 run after halftime. "We didn't trust each other and share the ball like we do and that led to transition points for them. We cut it to five and we were right there. Give Bowling Green some credit. It was a great atmosphere and their fans were loud when they needed them in the second half."

Junior Ra'Heim Moss paced the Rocket attack with 19 points. He was joined in double figures by fellow classmates Tyler Cochran (17 pts.) and Dante Maddox Jr. (15 pts.)

Marcus Hill topped Bowling Green (17-10, 8-6 MAC) with a game-high 31 points, while Rashaun Agee registered a double-double (12 pts., 13 reb.) for the Falcons.

Cochran led Toledo on the boards with seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough to offset the Falcons' 38-28 advantage on the glass.

The Rockets shot 41.1% from the field, 45.0% (9-of-20) from three-point range, and 81.3% (13-of-16) from the free-throw line but was hurt by committing 11 of their 13 turnovers in the second half. Bowling Green posted a 48.2 shooting mark and had a slight advantage at the charity stripe with its 18-of-21 totals.

Toledo will be back in action when it hosts Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Savage Arena.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Toledo's five-game winning streak vs. Bowling Green, one short of its most ever vs. the Falcons.
• The Rockets are shooting 42.7% (41-of-96) from three-point range in their last five contests.
• Ra'Heim Moss registered three triples for the seventh time in his career and is shooting 56.3% (9-of-16) from three-point range in his last five games.
• Tyler Cochran scored in double digits for a season-high 11^th straight game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Bowling Green jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the opening four minutes.
• Tyler Cochran scored five points during a 15-5 spurt to put the Rockets in front, 21-16, at the 9:03 mark.
• Bryce Ford's triple gave the Rockets their largest lead of the night, 33-27, with 4:15 left in the half.
• The Falcons ended the half with an 8-2 run to take a 39-38 lead to the locker room.

SECOND HALF

• Bowling Green carried its momentum into the second half, scoring eight straight points for a 47-38 cushion at the 15:59 mark.
• Toledo quickly climbed back within four, 47-43, on a Ra'Heim Moss three-pointer and two free throws from Dante Maddox Jr.
• Jason Spurgin's dunk capped off a 9-2 Falcon spurt that gave the hosts their first double-digit lead, 56-45, with 10:46 to play.
• Moss hit another triple to cut BG's lead to 64-59 with 4:29 to play but that was as close the Rockets could come down the stretch.