TOLEDO, Ohio - Senior guard Tre'Shaun Fletcher scored a career-high 31 points for Toledo (5-4) on Saturday evening, but it wasn't enough in the Rockets' 93-87 home loss to Conference USA foe Marshall (7-3).
The defeat was UT's first in . . .
The defeat was UT's first in . . .
. . . five games in Savage Arena this season, while the victory was the Thundering Herd's first in four road contests.
Fletcher, who knocked down 15-of-16 free-throw attempts, was joined in double figures by sophomore center Luke Knapke (18 pts.) and junior guard Jaelan Sanford (13 pts.).
Fletcher, who knocked down 15-of-16 free-throw attempts, was joined in double figures by sophomore center Luke Knapke (18 pts.) and junior guard Jaelan Sanford (13 pts.).
Senior Trevaun Fletcher scored a career-high 31 points against Marshall (UT Athletics)
Knapke also tied his career high with a team-best 11 rebounds for his second career double-double to help the Rockets hold a 40-36 advantage in the rebounding department. Fletcher and junior forward Nate Navigato also contributed on the glass by grabbing seven boards apiece.
Freshman guard Marreon Jackson dished out a season-high six assists as UT collected 20 helpers on its 29 field goals. The Rockets were hurt, though, by 18 turnovers which Marshall turned into a 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
The visitors outshot Toledo by a slight margin, 50.0-47.5, with each team posting similar marks (UT - 29.4 (5-of-17); MU 31.6 (6-of-19)) from three-point range. The Rockets knocked down 24-of-28 (85.7 percent) free-throw attempts, while the Thundering Herd converted 19-of-29 (65.5 percent).
Junior guard Jon Elmore topped Marshall with 25 points, just over his 24.6 scoring average, which ranks fourth in the country. Junior forward Ajdan Panava also contributed 24 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and four steals.
The Thundering Herd led by a 44-43 margin at halftime and quickly extended their lead to 51-45 in the first three minutes of the second half. Toledo then went on a 10-0 run that included a Fletcher jumper, a Knapke slam, two free throws from freshman guard Dwayne Rose Jr., a Fletcher layup and a Rose layup.
UT extended its lead to 11 points when another Knapke dunk made the score 76-65 with 9:02 to play. Marshall rallied to cut the Rockets' lead to 78-76 at the 5.28 mark, but Toledo answered with a 7-1 spurt that was capped off by a Sanford trey with 4:26 remaining.
The Midnight Blue and Gold then appeared headed to victory after two Fletcher free throws with 2:59 left put the Rockets in front, 87-79. Toledo, however, was held scoreless the rest of the way.
After Toledo was called for a shot-clock violation with 1:43 remaining, Elmore's layup drew Marshall within two, 87-85, seven seconds later. Penava's layup then tied the score at 87-87 with 55 seconds to play.
Following a Rocket timeout, junior guard C.J. Burks stole an inbounds pass at mid-court and went in for a dunk with 45 seconds left. Penava then blocked Sanford's layup with 30 seconds left, and Elmore hit a pair of free throws for a four-point cushion with 24 ticks on the clock.
Penava blocked Fletcher's next shot, and junior forward Dani Koljanin closed out the scoring with a layup.
Toledo will now take the next week off for final exams and returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 16 vs. Horizon League foe Wright State. Tip-off time is set for 2:00 p.m.
(Courtesy of UT Athletics)
RSS Feed