AKRON, Ohio – Five Rockets scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough for the Toledo men's basketball team in its 77-70 defeat to Akron in Friday night's national-television matchup of the Mid-American Conference's top two teams. The victory moved the Zips (17-5, 9-1 MAC) a game in front of Toledo (14-8, 8-2 MAC) in the league standings.

Junior Ra'Heim Moss paced the Rocket attack with 16 points. Junior Dante Maddox Jr. and redshirt freshman Javan Simmons each scored 14 points, while junior Tyler Cochran and freshman Sonny Wilson contributed 11 points apiece.

Cochran also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and just missed registering his fourth double-double in his last five games.

Senior Ali Ali's 26 points topped a veteran-laden Akron squad. Senior Enrique Freeman also garnered a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

"We needed to play with more toughness and maturity in the first half to win against a very good Akron team," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "Ali Ali is a good player, and he hurt us with his play in the post. We need to defend him better than we did tonight. We got back in the game in the second half, but not finishing some opportunities around the basket and missing some foul shots really cost us."

Toledo shot 43.3% from the field and registered season lows for both three-point field goals (2) and three-point FG% (16.7). Akron posted a 47.2 shooting mark and converted at a 33.3% clip (8-of-24) from behind the arc.

Toledo trailed 47-36 at halftime but rallied to within three points, 60-57, on Simmons' three-point play with 6:46 remaining. The Rockets then cut Akron's margin to 75-70 with 30 seconds left but couldn't complete their comeback.

Toledo returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 6 when it travels to Ypsilanti, Mich. to face Eastern Michigan (9-12, 2-7 MAC). The Eagles will play at Northern Illinois on Saturday before hosting the Rockets.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• Back-to-back baskets from Tyler Cochran put Toledo in front 11-8 at the first media timeout.
• The Zips then hit three triples during a 13-2 spurt to take a 21-13 advantage midway through the half.
• Ali Ali's three-pointer gave Akron its largest lead of the night, 34-20, at the 5:48 mark.
• Javan Simmons capped off a 6-0 burst to bring the Rockets within 34-26 less than a minute later.
• Ali's three-point play at the end of the half gave Akron a 47-36 lead at intermission.
• The Zips shot 64.3% in the first half, with Toledo notching a 51.9 FG%.

SECOND HALF

• The Zips remained in control for the first eight minutes of the second half until Tyler Cochran hit two free throws with 10:48 remaining to bring the Rockets within 56-50.
• Sonny Wilson scored four straight points to make it a four-point game, 58-54, two minutes later.
• A three-point play from Javan Simmons cut the Zips' lead to 60-57 with 6:46 left.
• Mikal Dawson hit his fourth three-pointer of the game to put Akron ahead 67-59 with five minutes to play.
• The closest Toledo came down the stretch was 75-70 after Dante Maddox's steal and layup with 29.8 seconds left.