Friday, January 16
Kent, Ohio
6:30 p.m.
University of Toledo
10-8,4-2MAC
84
at
87
Kent State
14-4,5-1MAC
1
2
F
Toledo
41
43
84
Kent St.
35
52
87
Team Stats
UT
KentSt
FG%
.475
.474
3FG%
.421
.292
FT%
.690
.722
RB
29
37
TO
11
9
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. scored a team-high 19 points in Toledo's 87-84 loss at Kent State.
Photo by: Nathan Snook
Rockets Fall in Hard Fought Battle at Kent State, 87–84
1/16/2026 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. leads Toledo with 19 points
KENT, Ohio — The Toledo men's basketball team led by as many as nine points in the second half before Kent State rallied for an 87-84 victory in the M.A.C. Center on Friday night. The defeat dropped the Rockets to 10–8 overall and 4–2 in Mid-American Conference play, while the Golden Flashes improved to 14–4 (5–1 MAC).
Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. led the Rockets offensively with 19 points and a team-high four three-point field goals. Joining Blyden in double digits were juniors Austin Parks (16 pts.) and Sonny Wilson (15 pts.). Blyden also grabbed six boards to share team rebounding honors with senior Sean Craig, while Wilson dished out a team-best six assists.
Kent State was led by senior forward Delrecco Gillespie's 29 points and 13 rebounds. Gillespie leads the nation with 12.6 rebounds per game.
Toledo held a 41-35 halftime advantage before a 14-2 run gave KSU a 57-53 lead with 12:35 remaining. Blyden's triple gave UT its last lead of the night, 62-61, with 9:19 left. The Rockets reduced their deficit to three points twice in the final four minutes but couldn't come any closer.
Toledo held a 15-14 rebounding advantage in the opening 20 minutes before seeing KSU hold the upper hand by a 23-14 margin in the second half. The back-and-forth contest featured 14 lead changes and eight occasions when the score was tied.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK
"It's a disappointing loss for us, but I think most of our guys played well. Kent State had 11 offensive rebounds in the second half after having only two in the first. That really hurt us. Delrecco Gillespie is a load inside and one of the best players in our league. For the most part we did a good job defensively against him, but when it mattered most he stepped up. That's what all-league players do."
TOP PERFORMERS
Toledo will travel to Amherst, Mass. to face UMass (11-7, 2-4 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:00 p.m. in its first Mid-American Conference matchup vs. the Minutemen. The Rockets will then return home to host Bowling Green (11-6, 2-3 MAC) for their 'Stripe Savage' game on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:00 p.m.
Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. led the Rockets offensively with 19 points and a team-high four three-point field goals. Joining Blyden in double digits were juniors Austin Parks (16 pts.) and Sonny Wilson (15 pts.). Blyden also grabbed six boards to share team rebounding honors with senior Sean Craig, while Wilson dished out a team-best six assists.
Kent State was led by senior forward Delrecco Gillespie's 29 points and 13 rebounds. Gillespie leads the nation with 12.6 rebounds per game.
Toledo held a 41-35 halftime advantage before a 14-2 run gave KSU a 57-53 lead with 12:35 remaining. Blyden's triple gave UT its last lead of the night, 62-61, with 9:19 left. The Rockets reduced their deficit to three points twice in the final four minutes but couldn't come any closer.
Toledo held a 15-14 rebounding advantage in the opening 20 minutes before seeing KSU hold the upper hand by a 23-14 margin in the second half. The back-and-forth contest featured 14 lead changes and eight occasions when the score was tied.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK
"It's a disappointing loss for us, but I think most of our guys played well. Kent State had 11 offensive rebounds in the second half after having only two in the first. That really hurt us. Delrecco Gillespie is a load inside and one of the best players in our league. For the most part we did a good job defensively against him, but when it mattered most he stepped up. That's what all-league players do."
TOP PERFORMERS
- Leroy Blyden Jr.: 19 pts., 6 reb., 4-7 3FG
- Austin Parks: 16 pts., 4 asst., 3 reb., 6-6 FT
- Sonny Wilson: 15 pts., 6 asst.
- Field Goal %: Toledo 47.5%, Kent State 47.4%
- Three-Point %: Toledo 42.1% (8-of-19), Kent State 29.2% (7-of-24)
- Free Throws: Toledo 69.0% (20-of-29), Kent State 72.2% (26-of-36)
- Assists/Turnovers: Toledo 15/11, Kent State 16/9
- Rebounds: Kent State 37, Toledo 29
Toledo will travel to Amherst, Mass. to face UMass (11-7, 2-4 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:00 p.m. in its first Mid-American Conference matchup vs. the Minutemen. The Rockets will then return home to host Bowling Green (11-6, 2-3 MAC) for their 'Stripe Savage' game on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5:00 p.m.
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