Tuesday, February 24
Toledo, Ohio
7:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
15-13,9-6MAC
79
vs
69
Northern Illinois
9-18,4-11MAC
1
2
F
NIU
31
38
69
Toledo
36
43
79
Team Stats
NIU
UT
FG%
.474
.469
3FG%
.217
.412
FT%
.625
.857
RB
33
35
TO
11
8
STL
4
5
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Sophomore Mynor Strong scored a season-high 14 points in Toledo's 79-69 win over Northern Illinois.
Photo by: Dejay Mcnear
Second-Half Surge & Balanced Attack Lifts Toledo Past NIU, 79–69
2/24/2026 10:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Junior Sonny Wilson tallies team-high 17 points to help Rockets clinch MAC Tournament berthwith 20 points and five assists
TOLEDO, Ohio — Junior Sonny Wilson paced a balanced attack with 17 points to lead the Toledo men's basketball team to a 79–69 victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday night in Savage Arena. The win clinched a berth in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament for the Rockets (15-13, 9-6 MAC) and moved UT into a fourth-place tie with Ohio (15-13, 9-6 MAC) in the conference standings.
Wilson was joined in double figures by junior Austin Parks (14 pts.), sophomore Mynor Strong (14 pts.), freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. (12 pts.) and senior Sean Craig (11 pts.). Blyden and Craig also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, with Wilson's seven assists helping orchestrate an offense that posted 21 assists on 30 made field goals.
Parks also added six rebounds, four assists and four blocks to register one of his most complete performances of the season.
Gianni Cobb and Hassan Washington each scored 17 points to pace Northern Illinois (9–18, 4–11 MAC).
Toledo led nearly the entire contest and held a 36-31 halftime advantage. A pair of Strong dunks sparked an 8-2 burst that put the Rockets ahead 46-38 with 15:31 to play. Senior Kyler Vanderjagt's three-pointer increased UT's margin to 57-45 five minutes later. Wilson's layup with 4:35 left provided Toledo with its largest lead, 73-57, before the Rockets settled for a 10-point victory.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK
"Late February basketball is all about playing hard, having fun and getting better. This team has consistently gotten better, and I think our best is yet to come. Having 21 assists with eight turnovers is playing good basketball. Northern played hard, competed, and really defended. They kind of took us out of our rhythm on offense, but we keep getting better. I think this is the closest group we've had. They care about each other to the point that they sacrifice. We have outstanding leadership and they are together."
TOP PERFORMERS
Toledo will travel to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio (15-13, 9-6 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. with streaming on ESPN+.
Wilson was joined in double figures by junior Austin Parks (14 pts.), sophomore Mynor Strong (14 pts.), freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. (12 pts.) and senior Sean Craig (11 pts.). Blyden and Craig also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, with Wilson's seven assists helping orchestrate an offense that posted 21 assists on 30 made field goals.
Parks also added six rebounds, four assists and four blocks to register one of his most complete performances of the season.
Gianni Cobb and Hassan Washington each scored 17 points to pace Northern Illinois (9–18, 4–11 MAC).
Toledo led nearly the entire contest and held a 36-31 halftime advantage. A pair of Strong dunks sparked an 8-2 burst that put the Rockets ahead 46-38 with 15:31 to play. Senior Kyler Vanderjagt's three-pointer increased UT's margin to 57-45 five minutes later. Wilson's layup with 4:35 left provided Toledo with its largest lead, 73-57, before the Rockets settled for a 10-point victory.
QUOTING HEAD COACH TOD KOWALCZYK
"Late February basketball is all about playing hard, having fun and getting better. This team has consistently gotten better, and I think our best is yet to come. Having 21 assists with eight turnovers is playing good basketball. Northern played hard, competed, and really defended. They kind of took us out of our rhythm on offense, but we keep getting better. I think this is the closest group we've had. They care about each other to the point that they sacrifice. We have outstanding leadership and they are together."
TOP PERFORMERS
- Sonny Wilson 17 pts., 7 asst.
- Austin Parks: 14 pts, 6 reb., 4 asst., 4 blk.
- Mynor Strong: 14 pts., 5 reb., 2 stl.
- Leroy Blyden Jr.: 12 pts., 7 reb., 6 asst.
- Sean Craig: 11 pts., 7 reb., 5-7 FG
- Field-Goal %: Toledo 46.9%, Northern Illinois 47.4%
- Three-Point FG%: Toledo 7-17 (41.2%), Northern Illinois 5-23 (21.7%)
- Free Throws: Toledo 12-14 (85.7%), Northern Illinois 10-16 (62.5%)
- Rebounds: Toledo 35, Northern Illinois 33
- Assists/Turnovers: Toledo 21/8, Northern Illinois 13/11
Toledo will travel to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio (15-13, 9-6 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. with streaming on ESPN+.
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