University of Toledo
19-15,11-7MAC
Akron
29-5,17-1MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo | 42 | 34 | 76 |
| Akron | 30 | 49 | 79 |
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Toledo’s Bid For MAC Championship Comes Up Just Short in 79-76 loss to Akron
3/14/2026 11:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Zips hit three-pointer with six seconds left to knock off Rockets
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Toledo's bid for a MAC Championship came down to the final shot, a deep three-pointer by No. 2 seed Akron (29-5) with six seconds left that sent the Rockets to a 79-76 heartbreaking defeat in the championship game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday.
No. 4 seed Toledo (19-15) had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Austin Parks' three-pointer at the buzzer hit the rim.
Toledo got off to a hot start, led 42-30 at halftime and stayed in front until midway through the second half. The Zips took a five-point lead, but UT rallied with 15-6 spurt to assume a four-point advantage with seven minutes left. The Zips then didn't lead until Shammah Scott's game-winner.
Toledo's offense got a big boost from senior guard Kyler Vanderjagt, who finished with 13 points, his highest point total since Jan. 6.
Austin Parks (13 pts.) and Sean Craig (10 pts.) each scored in double figures as well. Craig also earned a spot on the all-tourney team after averaging 11.7 ppg and a team-high 6.7 rpg. He scored his 1,000th point in tonight's contest to finish with 1,009 points in his collegiate career.
Seniors Amani Lyles and Tavari Johnson paced the Zips with 15 points apiece, with Lyles also grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds.
Quoting Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk
Obviously, It's a tough loss. I'm really proud of this team, this group. I'm really proud of the way we played tonight. Obviously, some huge plays down to stretch…I thought we had that game won.
I'm proud of this team. Anybody that followed this team should appreciate what this team has done.
Rocket Leaders
- Leroy Blyden Jr – 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
- Kyler Vanderjagt – 13 points, 2-of-2 3PTFG
- Austin Parks – 13 points, 7 rebounds
- Sean Craig – 10 points, 6 rebounds
- Sonny Wilson – 7 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds
How It Happened
- Sean Craig knocked down three three-pointers to spark a 17-8 Rocket lead to open the contest.
- Kyler Vanderjagt scored five points in 7-2 spurt that put Toledo up 27-15 with 9:45 left in the first half.
- Akron cut the lead to four points but a Leroy Blyden Jr. layup and Jalen Ouwinga three-pointer to end the half gave Toledo a 42-30 edge going into the locker room.
- Toledo extended the lead to 12 points before a 19-2 Akron run gave the Zips a 57-52 lead with 10:30 to play.
- The Rockets struck back with an 8-0 run behind six points from Vanderjagt to regain the lead, 63-59.
- Akron tied the score at 67-67, while Toledo answered to take a 71-67 lead on a pair of Austin Parks' free throws with 3:10 left.
- Akron tied the score once again at 76-76 before hitting the game-winning three-pointer with six seconds left.
- On the ensuing play, Parks picked the ball up after it was knocked loose and got off a three-point attempt that bounced off the back side of the rim.
