TOLEDO, Ohio – Sophomore Sam Lewis scored a team-high 20 points to lead all five starters in double figures on Tuesday night in Toledo's 90-87 victory over Eastern Michigan in Mid-American Conference men's basketball action in Savage Arena. The victory kept the Rockets (8-6, 2-0) unbeaten in the early stages of league play.

"Eastern Michigan is a talented team and we had to make some big plays down the stretch to get the win," Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk said. "Our starting five was very good tonight and really efficient. We also shared the ball well and finished with 17 assists."

Sophomore Sonny Wilson tallied nine of his 19 points in the final four minutes to hold off a hard-charging Eagle squad (7-7, 1-1 MAC) that took a 74-73 advantage with 2:47 remaining. Wilson followed that with a pair of clutch baskets on the Rockets' next two possessions to put UT ahead to stay.

Sophomore Bryce Ford also had a big night for Toledo, finishing with a career-high 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Ford knocked down 4-of-5 shots from behind the arc as well. Sophomore Javan Simmons contributed 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while fifth-year senior Isaiah Adams produced 12 points and a team-high six assists.

The Eagles were led offensively by the trio of Jalen Terry (26 pts.), Christian Henry (22 pts.) and Da'Sean Nelson (20 pts.)

Toledo shot 51.7% from the field, 44.4% (8-of-18) from three-point range and 75.9% (22-of-29) from the charity stripe. EMU posted a 55.4 shooting mark, a 43.5 three-point FG% (10-of-23), and 78.9 FT% (15-of-19).

The Rockets registered a 31-29 rebounding advantage and forced the Eagles to commit 16 turnovers leading to a 26-14 point advantage for Toledo in that department.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST HALF

• The Rockets jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but EMU countered with a 13-6 run to knot the score at 15-15 at the 12:06 mark.
• Isaiah Adams and Bryce Ford each had a pair of buckets during a 14-0 spurt that gave the Rockets a 31-17 lead with 8:03 to go in the first half.
• Da'Sean Nelson hit a layup to cut Toledo's lead to eight and make it 36-28 at the 3:53 mark.
• Rockets finished the half on a 10-5 run to take a 46-33 lead into the locker room.
• Four Rockets had at least eight points in the first half led by Sam Lewis with 12.
• EMU shot 12-23 from the floor, but the Rockets forced 11 Eagle turnovers.

SECOND HALF

• Jalen Terry opened the half with a pair of three-pointers and EMU went on a 14-4 run to trim the lead to 50-47 at the 16:28 mark.
• Seth Hubbard hit a jumper at the 11:47 mark to increase Toledo's margin to 58-51.
• Eastern cut the lead to two before Bryce Ford hit a pair of triples as part of an 8-0 run with 8:21 left.
• Jalen Terry capped a 10-0 burst for Eastern with a three-pointer to tie the game, 66-66, with 7:09 to play.
• Eastern took its only lead of the game, 74-73, on a pair of free throws with 2:47 left in the half.
• Toledo made seven free throws in the last minute to close out the three-point victory.

ROCKET ROUNDUP

• Toledo's victory over Eastern Michigan was its eighth straight in the series.
• Bryce Ford's career-high 18 points came in a career-high 28 minutes in his second collegiate start.
• Sam Lewis and Sonny Wilson have each scored in double figures in 13 of 14 games.
• Five or more Rockets scored in double figures or the seventh time this season.
• Toledo is 7-0 when leading at halftime and 6-1 when shooting 45% or higher.
• Eastern Michigan's 16 turnovers tied for the second most by a Rocket opponent this season.

UP NEXT
The Rockets will host Central Michigan (6-8, 0-2 MAC) on Friday, Jan. 10 at 8:00 p.m. in a nationally televised game on the CBS Sports Network. Toledo will then begin a stretch of playing four of its next five games on the road when it travels to Akron (9-5, 2-0 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 14.