BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore
Javan Simmons scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough in the Toledo men's basketball team's 87-74 defeat at Buffalo on Saturday in Alumni Arena. Despite the defeat, the Rockets (16-13, 9-7 MAC) clinched a spot in this year's Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland and are in a fourth-place tie in the league standings with Kent State (19-10, 9-7 MAC).
Joining Simmons in double figures were sophomores
Sonny Wilson (16 pts.) and
Sam Lewis (15 pts.).
Tyson Dunn led Buffalo (9-20, 4-12 MAC) with 26 points.
The score was tied at 32-32 at halftime before the Bulls' 11-0 spurt put the Rockets down 61-47 with 11:00 remaining in the game. The closest Toledo came down the stretch was eight points.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK
"We played better and with more energy, and had a good start today. There was a three-minute stretch in the second half where we had some defensive mistakes and that was the difference. After that we were in catch-up more the rest of the game. We need to rebound from this and play smarter."
ROCKET LEADERS
TEAM STATS
Toledo: 51.9 FG%, 38.5 3PTFG% (5-of-13), 86.7 FT% (13-of-15), 22 Reb., 14 Asst., 11 TO
Buffalo: 62.5 FG%, 56.5 3PTFG% (13-of-23), 57.1 FT% (4-of-7), 29 Reb., 18 Asst., 14 TO
UP NEXT
Toledo will return home for its final two games of the regular vs. Akron on Tuesday, March 4 and Ohio on Friday, March 7.
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