Friday, March 13
Cleveland, Ohio
5:00 p.m.
University of Toledo
vs
#8 Massachusetts
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
Sophomore Mynor Strong scored 10 points in the the Rockets' 77-76 win over Bowling Green in the MAC Quarterfinals.
Photo by: Ellen Holton
Toledo to Meet No. 8 Seed UMass in MAC Semifinals Tonight
3/13/2026 8:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Winner of Rockets-Minutemen matchup to face Akron-Kent winner on Saturday Night
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Toledo men's basketball (18-14, 11-7 MAC) will make its fifth semifinal appearance in the last six seasons when it faces No. 8 seed UMass (17-15) tonight in the 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament. The contest will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network and tip off in Cleveland's Rocket Arena at 5:00 p.m.
The No. 4 seed Rockets dropped an 84-82 decision to the Minutemen in Amherst on Jan. 20 in the lone meeting between the two teams. Leroy Blyden Jr. scored a game-high 22 points. Sonny Wilson added 16 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Austin Parks provided 14 points on 4-for-5 shooting while also going 6-of-6 from the line.
Toledo shot 54.9% from the field in that contest which featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. UT was hampered by 15 turnovers, tied for its most in a game this season.
Blyden scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half in yesterday's 77-76 quarterfinal win over Bowling Green. Wilson added 12 points, and Sean Craig, Parks and Mynor Strong each scored 10 points apiece. Toledo shot 50.8% from the field, including 8-of-16 from downtown. It was the second straight game UT shot 50% from behind the arc.
The Rockets are led by the backcourt duo of Wilson (17.2 ppg) and Blyden (16.4 ppg) along with the frontcourt tandem of Sean Craig (11.6 ppg) and Austin Parks (10.8 ppg). Blyden leads all MAC freshmen in scoring, while Wilson is dishing out a team-high 4.5 apg.
UMass advanced to the semifinals by handing No. 20 Miami its first loss of the season with an 87-83 victory. The Minutemen shot 52.2% from the field and dominated the glass by a 41-24 margin.
All-MAC honorees Leonardo Bettiol (18.0 ppg) and Marcus Banks Jr. (16.9 ppg) rank in the MAC's Top 10 in scoring, with Bettiol ranking third in the MAC with 7.9 rpg. MAC All-Freshman Team member Danny Carbuccia ranks second in the conference with 6.3 apg.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, March 13, 2026.
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio.
Arena: Rocket Arena (19,432).
Streaming: CBS Sports Network. Chris Lewis will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Tre Demps serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Mark Beier will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst.
SERIES
Toledo leads 3-2. Toledo posted a 57-56 win over UMass on Dec. 3, 2008 in the first game in a renovated Savage Arena. UT lost 84-82 at UMass in January in the first meeting between the schools in nearly 18 years.
WILSON & BLYDEN JR. HONORED WITH MAC POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
• Sonny Wilson and Leroy Blyden Jr. were named to the MAC's all-league squads, with Blyden being a unanimous selection for MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
• Wilson received Second-Team All-MAC honors after being a third-team selection last season.
• Wilson's selection marks the 15th consecutive season a Rocket has been selected to the first or second team under Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk.
• Blyden, who was named Third-Team All-MAC, is the ninth Rocket ever to be named MAC Freshman of the Year, and the fourth honoree in Kowalczyk's 16-year tenure.
• Wilson leads UT with career-high totals of 17.2 ppg, 4.5 apg and 1.4 spg. He also ranks second in the MAC with a career-best 3.0 assist/turnover ratio. He has scored in double digits in 48 of his last 49 contests. Wilson ranks second on the team with ten 20-point outings.
• Blyden leads MAC freshmen with 16.4 ppg and has registered the most points (525) by a freshman in school history. He ranks in the MAC's Top 10 with an 85.5 FT% (3rd), 1.7 spg (4th), 4.5 apg (7th) and 16.2 ppg (9th).
POST TOUCHES
• Sonny Wilson has scored in double digits in 48 of 49 games. The only game he didn't score in double figures was vs. Bowling Green (Jan. 24). Since that game, Wilson has averaged 17.9 ppg and 4.3 apg with a 49.7 FG% and a 40.5 3PTFG% (17-of-42).
• Leroy Blyden Jr. is averaging 21.1 ppg with a 61.1 FG% (33-of-54) in his last four games.
• Sean Craig has a team-high six double-doubles, including 16 pts.-13 reb. vs. Miami followed by 15 pts.-10 reb. vs. Ohio. He is 16 points away from 1,000 in his collegiate career.
• Austin Parks blocked a career-high five shots vs. BGSU (Jan. 24) and Ball State (Jan. 31) in addition to scoring a MAC-season high 17 points vs. Kent State (Feb. 3) and at WMU (Feb. 11). He registered his third double-double with 11 pts. & 11 reb. at Ohio (Feb. 28.).
• Mynor Strong has started the last 11 games, his first starting nods since UT's first two games of the season. He is averaging 9.1 ppg with a 46.2 3FG% (15-of-33) since re-joining the starting lineup, including a career-high 18 points and four triples vs. Buffalo last Friday.
• Jaylan Ouwinga scored a MAC career-high 13 points at Akron (Jan. 27) and is averaging 7.8 ppg with a 54.8 FG% (40-of-73) in his last 12 contests.
TEAM TIDBITS
• Toledo ranked FIRST in the MAC in league play with a 1.60 assist/turnover ratio and 9.6 turnovers per game, tied for FIRST with a plus-2.1 turnover margin, SECOND with a 75.9 FT% and 7.6 spg, and THIRD with a 49.1 FG%, a 37.8 three-point FG%, 15.4 apg, and +4.8 scoring margin.
• Toledo has held its opponents to 72.8 ppg, a 44.7 FG% and a 33.2 3PTFG% since Mynor Strong was inserted into the starting lineup on Jan. 31. UT was allowing 78.3 ppg, a 48.1 FG% and a 35.1 3PTFG% prior to that lineup change.
• Toledo's streak of committing 10 or fewer turnovers ended at eight games with its 11 miscues against Bowling Green. UT is now averaging 7.8 turnovers per game in its last nine contests.
• The Rockets have out-rebounded six of their last seven opponents with a plus-3.3 margin. The only game UT didn't hold a rebound edge was a 29-28 margin vs. Buffalo (March 6).
• Toledo is 4-8 in games decided by five points or less this season after being 8-1 in games decided by five points or less last season.
PROTECTING THE BASKETBALL
• Toledo tops the MAC for a second-straight year with 10.1 turnovers per game after averaging a MAC-best 9.5 miscues per game last season.
• The Rockets have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in 15 of 32 contests, including a season-low four at Michigan State (Dec. 16). Toledo's most giveaways in a game was on three occasions, at Wright State (Nov. 11), at UMass (Jan. 20) and at Akron (Jan. 27).
• Sonny Wilson leads the Rockets and ranks second in the MAC with a 3.0 A/TO ratio, with Leroy Blyden Jr. ranking seventh with a 2.42 mark.
UP NEXT
The Rockets will face either No. 2 Akron or No. 3 Kent State in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2 with a win over UMass.
The No. 4 seed Rockets dropped an 84-82 decision to the Minutemen in Amherst on Jan. 20 in the lone meeting between the two teams. Leroy Blyden Jr. scored a game-high 22 points. Sonny Wilson added 16 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds, while Austin Parks provided 14 points on 4-for-5 shooting while also going 6-of-6 from the line.
Toledo shot 54.9% from the field in that contest which featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. UT was hampered by 15 turnovers, tied for its most in a game this season.
Blyden scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half in yesterday's 77-76 quarterfinal win over Bowling Green. Wilson added 12 points, and Sean Craig, Parks and Mynor Strong each scored 10 points apiece. Toledo shot 50.8% from the field, including 8-of-16 from downtown. It was the second straight game UT shot 50% from behind the arc.
The Rockets are led by the backcourt duo of Wilson (17.2 ppg) and Blyden (16.4 ppg) along with the frontcourt tandem of Sean Craig (11.6 ppg) and Austin Parks (10.8 ppg). Blyden leads all MAC freshmen in scoring, while Wilson is dishing out a team-high 4.5 apg.
UMass advanced to the semifinals by handing No. 20 Miami its first loss of the season with an 87-83 victory. The Minutemen shot 52.2% from the field and dominated the glass by a 41-24 margin.
All-MAC honorees Leonardo Bettiol (18.0 ppg) and Marcus Banks Jr. (16.9 ppg) rank in the MAC's Top 10 in scoring, with Bettiol ranking third in the MAC with 7.9 rpg. MAC All-Freshman Team member Danny Carbuccia ranks second in the conference with 6.3 apg.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, March 13, 2026.
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio.
Arena: Rocket Arena (19,432).
Streaming: CBS Sports Network. Chris Lewis will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Tre Demps serving as analyst.
Radio: Rocket Radio Network. WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Mark Beier will provide play-by-play for broadcast with Jay Lehman serving as analyst.
SERIES
Toledo leads 3-2. Toledo posted a 57-56 win over UMass on Dec. 3, 2008 in the first game in a renovated Savage Arena. UT lost 84-82 at UMass in January in the first meeting between the schools in nearly 18 years.
WILSON & BLYDEN JR. HONORED WITH MAC POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
• Sonny Wilson and Leroy Blyden Jr. were named to the MAC's all-league squads, with Blyden being a unanimous selection for MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
• Wilson received Second-Team All-MAC honors after being a third-team selection last season.
• Wilson's selection marks the 15th consecutive season a Rocket has been selected to the first or second team under Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk.
• Blyden, who was named Third-Team All-MAC, is the ninth Rocket ever to be named MAC Freshman of the Year, and the fourth honoree in Kowalczyk's 16-year tenure.
• Wilson leads UT with career-high totals of 17.2 ppg, 4.5 apg and 1.4 spg. He also ranks second in the MAC with a career-best 3.0 assist/turnover ratio. He has scored in double digits in 48 of his last 49 contests. Wilson ranks second on the team with ten 20-point outings.
• Blyden leads MAC freshmen with 16.4 ppg and has registered the most points (525) by a freshman in school history. He ranks in the MAC's Top 10 with an 85.5 FT% (3rd), 1.7 spg (4th), 4.5 apg (7th) and 16.2 ppg (9th).
POST TOUCHES
• Sonny Wilson has scored in double digits in 48 of 49 games. The only game he didn't score in double figures was vs. Bowling Green (Jan. 24). Since that game, Wilson has averaged 17.9 ppg and 4.3 apg with a 49.7 FG% and a 40.5 3PTFG% (17-of-42).
• Leroy Blyden Jr. is averaging 21.1 ppg with a 61.1 FG% (33-of-54) in his last four games.
• Sean Craig has a team-high six double-doubles, including 16 pts.-13 reb. vs. Miami followed by 15 pts.-10 reb. vs. Ohio. He is 16 points away from 1,000 in his collegiate career.
• Austin Parks blocked a career-high five shots vs. BGSU (Jan. 24) and Ball State (Jan. 31) in addition to scoring a MAC-season high 17 points vs. Kent State (Feb. 3) and at WMU (Feb. 11). He registered his third double-double with 11 pts. & 11 reb. at Ohio (Feb. 28.).
• Mynor Strong has started the last 11 games, his first starting nods since UT's first two games of the season. He is averaging 9.1 ppg with a 46.2 3FG% (15-of-33) since re-joining the starting lineup, including a career-high 18 points and four triples vs. Buffalo last Friday.
• Jaylan Ouwinga scored a MAC career-high 13 points at Akron (Jan. 27) and is averaging 7.8 ppg with a 54.8 FG% (40-of-73) in his last 12 contests.
TEAM TIDBITS
• Toledo ranked FIRST in the MAC in league play with a 1.60 assist/turnover ratio and 9.6 turnovers per game, tied for FIRST with a plus-2.1 turnover margin, SECOND with a 75.9 FT% and 7.6 spg, and THIRD with a 49.1 FG%, a 37.8 three-point FG%, 15.4 apg, and +4.8 scoring margin.
• Toledo has held its opponents to 72.8 ppg, a 44.7 FG% and a 33.2 3PTFG% since Mynor Strong was inserted into the starting lineup on Jan. 31. UT was allowing 78.3 ppg, a 48.1 FG% and a 35.1 3PTFG% prior to that lineup change.
• Toledo's streak of committing 10 or fewer turnovers ended at eight games with its 11 miscues against Bowling Green. UT is now averaging 7.8 turnovers per game in its last nine contests.
• The Rockets have out-rebounded six of their last seven opponents with a plus-3.3 margin. The only game UT didn't hold a rebound edge was a 29-28 margin vs. Buffalo (March 6).
• Toledo is 4-8 in games decided by five points or less this season after being 8-1 in games decided by five points or less last season.
PROTECTING THE BASKETBALL
• Toledo tops the MAC for a second-straight year with 10.1 turnovers per game after averaging a MAC-best 9.5 miscues per game last season.
• The Rockets have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in 15 of 32 contests, including a season-low four at Michigan State (Dec. 16). Toledo's most giveaways in a game was on three occasions, at Wright State (Nov. 11), at UMass (Jan. 20) and at Akron (Jan. 27).
• Sonny Wilson leads the Rockets and ranks second in the MAC with a 3.0 A/TO ratio, with Leroy Blyden Jr. ranking seventh with a 2.42 mark.
UP NEXT
The Rockets will face either No. 2 Akron or No. 3 Kent State in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2 with a win over UMass.
Toledo Men's Basketball vs Akron Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, March 15
Toledo Men's Basketball vs UMass Post Game Press Conference
Friday, March 13
Toledo Men's Basketball vs BGSU Post Game Press Conference
Thursday, March 12
Toledo Men's Basketball vs Buffalo Post Game Press Conference
Friday, March 06
