University of Toledo
12-10,6-4MAC
Ball State
7-14,3-6MAC
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Toledo Cruises to 73-55 Home Win over Ball State
1/31/2026 3:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Sonny Wilson leads Rockets with 19 points and seven assists
TOLEDO, Ohio - Junior Sonny Wilson tallied a game-high 19 points and seven assists to lead the Toledo men's basketball team to a convincing 73–55 victory over Ball State in Savage Arena. The win moved the Rockets to 12–10 overall and 6–4 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Cardinals fell to 7–14 (3–6 MAC).
Senior Sean Craig delivered another solid all-around performance for Toledo, tallying 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. added 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore Jaylan Ouwinga also provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while junior Austin Parks tallied six points and tied his career high with five blocked shots.
Wilson set the tone early, scoring 13 points in the first half as the Rockets built a 39–27 halftime advantage. Toledo shot 57.7% in the first half and used a 14–4 run midway through the half to build a cushion they never relinquished.
Toledo held Ball State to just 31.4% shooting, the lowest by a Rocket opponent this season. The Cardinals made only 4-of-20 shots (20.0%) from behind the three-point arc and committed 14 turnovers.
Kayden Fish scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Cardinals offensively.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK:
We played our best game defensively of the season and it was for 40 minutes. We created turnovers against a Ball State team that's one of the best in the country at not turning the ball over. Our bench play was good too, and Jaylan Ouwinga was huge for us. He's always had the ability and now he's starting to produce for us.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Sonny Wilson: 19 pts., 7 asst
- Sean Craig: 15 pts., 6 reb., 2-4 3FG
- Leroy Blyden Jr.: 13 pts., 5 reb., 3 asst.
- Jaylan Ouwinga: 10 pts., 9 reb.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Field-Goal %: Toledo 49.1%, Ball State 31.4%
- Three-Point FG%: Toledo 7-22 (31.8%), Ball State 4-20 (20.0%)
- Free Throws: Toledo 12-14 (86.7%), Ball State 19-27 (70.4%)
- Rebounds: Toledo 34, Ball State 34
- Assists/Turnovers: Toledo 14/13, Ball State 7/14
ROCKET ROUNDUP
- Ball State's 31.4 FG% was the lowest by a Division I opponent since Western Michigan shot 28.8% on Feb. 27, 2021.
- Toledo has a five-game winning streak vs. the Cardinals. UT has also won six of its last seven home matchups vs. the Cardinals.
UP NEXT
Toledo will host third-place Kent State (16-6, 7-3 MAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7:00 p.m. The Rockets will then begin a three-game road stretch with a trip to Harrisonburg, Va. to face James Madison (10-11, 3-6 SBC) on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4:00 p.m. UT will then visit Western Michigan (13-8, 4-5 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Bowling Green (8-13, 2-7 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 14.
